Herding the Crusher through the hallways of the arena was perhaps the most difficult thing that Will had ever done, especially with one arm. A trail of wreckage led from his cell to the door of the arena, but standing in the light of the setting sun, watching the Crusher slam that door down and stomp into the arena just in the nick of time, it all felt like a brilliant plan had come together. The gauntlet had a full charge. He only needed the one good arm, but he was sure glad that Crusher's attention had turned towards everything that was unfolding inside of the arena.

Letting him out was the only thing that Will could think of doing, the only way that he could save Vera. Jumping into the arena—bum arm or not—wouldn't have been much help. He knew the horde that Branch kept at his disposal, never mind the security staff that were armed-to-the-teeth. There wasn't anything else in the world that he feared quite like the Crusher. No matter what Branch had done to him, no matter what kind of control he had over the monster, Vera believed that there was some good left inside of him, and if there was, Will was about to find out.

The Crusher was on a rampage, destroying everything in his path. Branch and his goons focused on him, trying to wrest control of the magnificent beast before he destroyed everything. That was as good of a chance as ever for Will to dash across the arena towards Vera, who reamined bound while Gabriel was fending off as many of the undead as he could on his own. A few stragglers turned their focus to Will, him flicking the switch on his gauntlet and feeling the power surge through it. Favoring his left shoulder he charged in towards the first, his right fist connecting with the first shot, the mangled face of what once was a man didn't have time to react before the familiar crack of an impact and splat as his remains rained down on the ground steeled Will's resolve to keep moving.

Killing the undead was never a hard task. He had learned how to do it artfully throughout his run in the arena, especially with an explosive glove strapped onto his fist. Another three fell to his right hand, one-after-the-other, while he skirted along the far edge of the arena. His heart was pounding, and he wanted to run, to sprint to Vera and help to free her, but he knew better than to make such a mistake. Taking his attention away from the horde of undead, the rich, power-hungry man-god and his muscle, or even the great beast that he had created and was currently dissecting anyone who dared oppose him in a fit or rage could mean the end of his life.

Branch was barking orders at his men, sending them to their doom against the Crusher who seemed to have his eyes fixated on Branch the entire time, clawing his way through hordes of the stray undead that weren't attacking Gabriel and Vera's party, as well as guards that were trying to pop off shots at the Crusher while Branch shouted for them not to kill him. One of the armored guards let out a bloodcurdling cry as the Crusher squeezed him in his massive hand, the sound of his ribs cracking one-by-one filling the air with the general horror of the scene before the screaming stopped and Crusher spat his helmet to the ground. A tremor ran through Will's body, knowing what kind of power the Crusher had at his disposal.

"Will!" Vera called out, the distance between them shrinking by the second. "Will thank god."

"Vera," he said, feeling a claw tug at his shoulder, spinning around to find himself face-to-face with a ghoul. He sunk his elbow into the former-man's midsection and smashed him across the jaw with the back of his right fist, not getting a full impact, but it still enough to crush its skull and send it crashing to the ground. "Fuckin' wanker."

"TK needs your help, Will," she said.

"I see that," he said, rushing to her side and embracing her, only for her to tap her knee against his groin.

"Then get me free already and help him."

"Fuckin' hell," he muttered, glancing back at the chains. "So uh, I need everyone to sit down so I can get a hold of 'em."

"Christ, Will," Vera said. "Can you even try to be friendly?"

"Do ya see what's goin' on?"

"Fine, fine, Tyler. I need you to sit down with me. Shar, just stay still, okay?"

"Okay," she said, a makeshift tourniquet torn from Tyler's once-gray, now-deep red shirt wrapped around her leg. Tyler sat down next to Vera. Will pulled the chains tight and crashed his fist down onto the lock, which exploded on impact.

"You're free," he said. "Now what?"

"Help TK, damnit."

"Oh, right." Will turned to TK, who was doubled over. "Mate, I dunno what to say but..."

"Do you have a charge pack?" He asked.

"What? Err, one'uh these?" He held out his glove.

"Yeah, I don't have one," TK said.

"Just the one, but uhh—"

"Pass it over, get them back to safety. You shouldn't need it. I'll fend them off, I just need a charge pack." Gabriel got back to his feet just in time to plant a kick to the midsection of the monstrosity, sending it toppling back into three others, them all falling to the ground. "Please."

"Oh c'mon," Vera tugged the charge pack out from his gauntlet, tossing it to Gabriel. "Let's just go while we have a chance."

"Fine, fine," he said, scanning around, looking for a way out. The only way that he saw was where he came from with the Crusher, but now he was ferrying a kid, Vera and a woman with some sort of injury, all of this without a charge pack for his gauntlet.

"You're gonna need to help carry Shar, though," she said while helping the woman to her feet. "She got hit pretty badly."

"She ain't gonna turn, right?" He looked at Vera, supporting the woman. "Right?"

"No, she's not going to turn," she said. "She got scratched, not bitten. Come and help me already."

"You didn't think that it'd be this easy?" Branch was shouting over the intercom. "Did you?"

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Will did his best to ignore it while he pulled Shar's arm up over his bad shoulder, leaving his right arm free in case he needed to swat at someone on the way to the door. The door was a long walk, especially carrying someone wounded. Vera could take care of herself, but she was looking out for the kid. "This whole thing is fucked," he muttered.

"Keep it to yourself, Will," Vera whispered into his ear. "They need us to be strong."

"That they'll just be able to walk free from this? Oh no, TK, they won't walk free."

TK was defiant, mowing through the undead with the fresh charge pack attached to his explosive shin guard. Will's urge to join the fight was strong, but he knew he needed to sit this one out, to just get them across to safety and then who know's where. This wasn't the most thought-out plan, he admitted, but he had to do something. He couldn't just let Vera die out there, not after all that she had done for him. This would most likely be the last thing he did as long as Branch was alive inside of that arena, or as a resident of the Tower. They'd have to find somewhere else to stay. But what about Stuart? Oh, Stuart.

The woman was wailing while they dragged her, sidling against the wall as best that they could, TK behind them and against the other wall, doing his best to lure all the undead towards him while they escaped. Still in shock, the boy was sullen, but still moving and remaining quiet. Crusher was slowing down, Branch's guards zapping him with shock sticks while he writhed against the wall.

"Dad!" the boy shouted.

"Shut 'em up, Vera," Will said.

"Dad no!"

"Baby, that isn't your daddy anymore," the woman said through the tears. "Your daddy is gone."

"No, he's not, mom, he's right there and they are killing him!"

"Ver, we gotta keep goin'," Will said.

"C'mon, Tyler," Vera grabbed his hand. "We've gotta keep going, we're almost there."

"Dad! No!" The boy broke free, dashing towards the scene while the rest stood in disbelief.

"Tyler, no!" Vera called out.

"He's gonna get us all killed!"

"Will, go after him. I'll watch after her," Vera said, Will letting go of the boy's mother while the weight shifted onto Vera.

"With what?"

"I don't know, just figure something out! Hurry!"

The boy was rushing towards the group, Will dashing after him, shouting for him to stop, to no avail. Whatever the Crusher was now, that was at one point his father and the boy seemed to be magnetically attracted to him after believing him to be dead for so long. He didn't envy the kid, but he also didn't want to die inside of the arena, in fact, he had thought he'd rule over it for years to come, or at least become a legend who got fat and drunk in the stands watching kids kill each other to live up to his name. Instead, he was chasing down a kid who threatened to end all of them because he couldn't control his shit.

"Isn't this touching?" Branch cackled like a madman. "Is that your daddy, boy? Watch him writhe! He's weak, he's a tool for me! He never even put up a fight!"

"No, dad!" the kid shouted. "Let him go."

"The balls on this one." Branch stood before the boy, holding his goons back. "You dare oppose me? I'm Jordan Branch, boy. All of this is mine, including your life and the life of that mother of yours. See this hand?" He held out his hand towards him, clenching it into a fist. "I can crush it whenever I damned well please, and right now seems as good of a time as any."

"Fuck off, already," Will said, out of breath.

"Oh Mr. Farrington," Branch said, his demeanor taking a turn towards the morose. "I hadn't forgotten about you and how you've disappointed me."

The popping sounds from the small, controlled explosions being set off by Gabriel's shin guard were growing closer, Will glancing over his shoulder to see him, covered in gore, but making his way towards them, doing his best to distract Branch's guards and Branch, to no avail. Branch was standing in front of the boy, who was staring up at him in defiance. The boy lunged at Branch, only for him to pull his cape in front of him, Tyler smashing against it and crashing to the ground.

"You see?" Branch stood over him. "Weak, just like your father."

"No!" Tyler shouted, springing to his feet and rushing at Branch again. Will tried to reach out for him, but it was too late. Branch's cape flashed again, only this time the blades along the bottom ripped into the boy's midsection, his cry filling the air before his body tumbled to the dirt. A bright red gash opened up across his stomach. Blood oozing out, Will slid to his knees, diving onto the boy, shielding him with his body.

"Move, Farrington!"

"Fuck off, ye cunt," Will spat up at him.

"The boy must die," Branch said.

"I'll not let you touch 'em again."

"So be it," Branch said, gripping onto his cape only for Stuart to grab a hold of his wrist, stopping him from attacking. "What the...?"

"That's my brother, boss."

"I don't care," Branch shoved Stuart to the ground. "Do your job or you'll die with him."

"Dad..." Tyler whispered, coughing and holding his stomach, repeating it louder and louder yet. "Dad! Dad!"

The Crusher paused, a flurry of bullets slamming him against the wall with a mighty thud. He turned towards Will and Tyler, a sense of dread filling Will up. The boy thought he was helping, but Will knew better. That wasn't his dad anymore. That was Branch's killing machine. He had brought him out here as a distraction, but if that mind-control device kicked in again, Branch would have him under his command again, and this plan would have turned to shit.

"Kid, shut it," Will said. "We don't want him comin' near us."

"Dad!" Tyler shouted, louder now.

The Crusher roared out, slamming his giant fists down onto the shoulder of a nearby guard, his body buckling under the blow and folding up, bones crushing like twigs under the force of Crusher's power. The beast sprinted towards them, his feet pounding against the ground, growing louder with each step like a tidal wave, Will waiting for him to crash into them. Branch panicked, pulling Stuart up and pushing him towards Crusher while Branch rushed towards the nearest door. The guards that could come to their senses fired at Crusher, but his mighty fists swung from side to side, sending them flying in both directions, parting them like he was cutting through water in a boat.

Stuart dove out of the way of Crusher's fist, him and Will locking eyes, Will thought for the last time. He stood over Will, as imposing as ever, blood and gore staining his body, face and fists, his lungs heaving and the hot breath running through Will's hair. "You can't hurt 'em, Crusher. You can't hurt the boy."

Crusher stood there, glaring down at him, before his hand probed down towards Will. Will primed his right hand, but remembered that he had given his charge to Gabriel. This was it, wasn't it? He might as well die a hero after all of that. He pulled himself up to his feet and went to swing his right hand up towards Crusher, only for Crusher to catch his punch in his palm and brush Will off onto his back. Crusher loomed over his boy, the boy breathing heavily and trying to stay calm, but the look of panic was clear on his face. That wasn't his father staring down at him. It was something different and far more sinister.

"Dad?" Tyler squeaked out.

Crusher leaned in close, sniffing at him before he stopped, inspecting the gash across Tyler's stomach, then making eye contact with him. Tyler stayed calm, reaching his hand up towards Crusher's face.

"Dad," he said. "I miss you."

The beast stumbled back at the boy's touch, letting out not a moan, not a groan or a scream, but a cry. It was heart wrenching, pained, confused and the raucous arena fell silent at it. The guards stopped attacking, everyone just watched while Branch's creation came to terms with its humanity, or lack thereof. Stuart crawled over to Will, the brothers clasping hands.

"We gotta get the fuck outta here," Stuart muttered.

"Aye," Will said. "Help me with the boy."

"Lookit 'em," Stuart said. "He's already dead."

"Maybe, maybe not. Just help me, you cunt."

Stuart didn't reply, helping Will to his feet before the both of them tended to the boy. The cut wasn't too deep, but Will still pulled his jersey off and wrapped it around the boy's waist just the same. That was his favorite jersey, one from before the fall. Not that it mattered now, anyway. Keeping the kid’s guts inside of him was what was important. He looked around and didn't see Vera, which meant she made it to the back. They draped the boy's arms over their shoulders and lifted him up, Will keeping a keen eye on the Crusher while he agonized on the ground. Everyone in a state of chaos.