The courthouse loomed above them with the dull conventional architecture of a building only a few decades old. Tall columns supported the second-story roof. White paint coated the outside as though it were a beacon in the sun. The steps leading up were of red brick, and there was little wear. People either rarely came here, or they frequently repaired, Zoe couldn’t be sure.

She had never been here before; she didn’t even know if she had been in the same state — or country — that this town came from. She saw no signs showing where it was, but there were gaps where the signs should sit. System or people? Again, that unsettling lack of certainty. Despite the vagueness, or because of it, she felt a sense of déjà vu wash over her as she followed the two guards up the steps toward the door.

While Alex and Fleshripper held their unconscious captain at the top step. Zoe turned toward Jack and Anton behind her.

“Does anyone feel… odd?” Zoe asked.

Anton’s eyes zoomed around like silver sparrows.

“I see nothing off,” though he glanced at Jack.

“No…” Zoe looked around.

The guards paused at the top of the door, ready to open it, when it opened itself. A long creak into a dark room, before a man stepped out. He had severe features and a head shaved down to stubble. His suit was the deep purple of ripe eggplant and looked as though it had been steam-cleaned that morning.

He frowned at the unconscious captain, before glaring at Zoe.

“You’re Zoe Chambers?” he asked.

“I am.”

His scowl only worsened.

“Hurry. We have little time.”

“Time for what?”

But he had already vanished into the dark beyond the doorway. One of Anton’s silver eyes floated after, and he shrugged.

“Looks safe to me,” he said.

Zoe felt an itch on her shoulders. A tightening of her skin. Her chain caressed her arm.

[Ding!]

[You are not alone]

The Black Star System sounded tired and feeble, but its words brought Zoe some comfort. Unfortunately, its next statement did not.

[The unfriendly one’s burned time…]

“What!” Zoe hissed.

But the childlike system only snored away. Zoe spun, her eyes taking in everything: flakes of snow cut down from the sky, the street remained steady as people passed this way and that, flames flickered — contained — in barrels and pits, and the sky danced through yellow and umber as it darkened. Time ticked, and she breathed, knowing it was all so…

Flimsy.

What caused time to burn? The Black Star chain remembered, but she couldn’t access its thoughts in the same way it touched hers. She sighed with frustration at the familiar feeling of another wall closing in on her.

She pushed her way into the dark building, and her friends followed.

###

The severe man waited inside and quickly led them upstairs. He sent the guards with their captain to another room and led Zoe and the others to two large doors. There was a moment of silence while the severe man glared at Anton and Jack.

“You two must wait outside.”

“Why?” Zoe asked.

He scowled.

“The sister is not well. She doesn’t have the strength for crowds.”

“Are you a doctor?”

“I oversee her treatment.”

“Well, I’m an actual doctor. So, how about we all go inside and I’ll make the judgment call.”

She stepped toward the doors, but he placed a hand on the handle.

“I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”

“Interesting,” Zoe said as she glanced from his hand to his face. “What level are you?”

He stiffened.

“That doesn’t matter. You are not the authority here.”

“What is your name?”

“I am Severin Charlene. I used to be the mayor of this town, but I have granted the Sister rulership in my stead since she has bonded with that… thing outside.”

“Fascinating,” Zoe said. “Tell me, Severin, have you ever been punched in the face?”

“What?”

Zoe drew back her fist and punched. Severin scrambled back and slammed into the wall behind her. Zoe’s fist hovered inches away from where his face had been.

She sniffed, opened the door, and entered. Jack followed at her heels, while Anton crouched before Severin.

“New world, new rules,” he said. “But some things stay the same.”

Servin scowled up at him.

“Like what?”

Anton grinned and clenched his fist.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Two for flinching.”

###

Beyond the two doors lay a recently renovated office. Even with an apocalypse, this was a nice place. Spacious, and modern. Windows from floor to ceiling flooded the room with the unsettling, shifting lights of the sky. Blue carpet padded Zoe’s footsteps as she advanced. There were bookshelves on the walls, and small leather couches set aside in a reading nook, but where one might expect a desk, there was instead a bed. The bed itself was huge with an oak headboard and frame that must have weighed a ton. Laying in the bed, propped up by nearly a dozen pillows, was a woman.

Zoe winced at the sight of that frail creature lying there. Her first thought, after the physiological reaction was: how is she alive?

A saline drip ran into her veins, each standing out from her skin like drainpipes against the front of a house. Bandages covered most of her skin, and what little there was showed as nearly translucent — spotted with brown and bruises. Thin white hair strayed in front of wide eyes. Tears welled as she raised her arm for fresh bandages to be wrapped from her elbow to her wrist by a plump man with greased-back hair. It looked as though he were covering a fresh burn.

She tilted her head to look at them as they entered.

“I’ve waited for you.”

Her voice was a croak as weak as her flesh. When she coughed, it ran down her body in a shudder like a stone casting ripples in a pond.

Zoe slowed as she witnessed the woman. The weakness before stymied her rage. This was the women sacrificing people to bugs? This was the tyrant she sought to stop?

She couldn’t believe it.

“Who are you?” Zoe asked.

The plump man glared at her.

“Show some respect,” he hissed. “This is Sister Salt. Thanks to her, we have avoided the worst of the mantis.”

“Expect no respect from them,” said Severin as he entered the room clutching his shoulder.

Zoe leaned in close enough to Anton to whisper.

“What’s wrong with his arm?” Zoe asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Severin…” Sister Salt whispered.

Severin marched forward until he stood between Zoe and the bed.

"Sister, these brutes may have survived the apocalypse through strength, but they are not our salvation. Please, I beg you, stick to the plan.”

“We haven’t steered you wrong,” the plump man said with a smile as he beckoned for Severin's approach. “Outsiders are not the answer. Wasn’t your plan to let them wait below? You need your rest. What would these three even be able to do against the mantis queen?”

Zoe raised an eyebrow.

“I sent the ambassador scampering. You heard about that right? What else do you think I can do.”

The plump one scoffed.

“And you are just one person. How will you face off against the queen and her army when they move against us? You are as stupid as you appear.”

Zoe stepped forward, but Severin sneered at her.

“Will you beat your way through all your problems? We are people, not monsters, or have you already forgotten the difference? The Sister called for you, but now she has seen you. It is best to give her rest. You’re a doctor, aren’t you? You understand.”

Jack glanced at them, and then at the three townfolk whispering amongst themselves. He coughed and stepped forward.

“Listen, I was one of you. I was in the town, and I saw how bad it was. I understand why you think you’re trapped, but Zoe is more than just strong. She rescued me from the grip of a demon. She is in contact with the gods of the system, just as Sister Salt has communicated with them. I don’t know your plan, but you’re mistaken if you think you can afford to turn away her help.”

“I recognize you,” the plump one said. “You ran away with Roman and the others. I’m guessing you are luring them back into the town to —”

“Enough!” Sister Salt shouted and immediately fell into a coughing fit.

The plump one hurried to get her water. She knocked it away from his hands.

“Leave,” she rasped. “All of you bickering men, leave us.”

“Sister…” the plump one whispered into her ear. “We cannot leave you with these strangers.”

Sister Salt turned her wide, tear-filled eyes toward Zoe.

“Help,” she mouthed.

Zoe’s scarred lips twitched into a grin as her chain unfurled. This might be fun.

###

Zoe straightened the chairs. The broken bookshelf would have to be replaced, but it satisfied her how little damage there was. Anton and Jack had been compliant, but the others had taken a little more… persuasion.

With the room cleared Zoe approached the Sister’s bed. Up close the woman looked even smaller, but Zoe could see that she wasn’t old. In fact, she was younger than Zoe, but something had wasted her away. Some illness, poison, or hunger had drained away her vitality until she was the rattling husk before her.

The only reason she could even be alive without advanced medical equipment was the System itself. She must have high stats or at least a technique if she was level 20.

Zoe found the water glass, filled it, and helped the Sister to drink. From the way she sipped at the water, Zoe could tell her weakness wasn’t an act. This was someone on the edge of death.

Her hate dwindled, and soured, but confusion grew.

“You said you were waiting for me?” Zoe asked.

The Sister nodded and beckoned Zoe closer. It wasn’t until Zoe’s ear neared the cracked and faded lips that the Sister whispered.

“I have seen you all — especially you, Zoe Chambers — I have seen you burn time and defy the system. We are all so much blood in the gears, but you are a wrench refusing to bend. I need you.”

Zoe’s eyes widened. Burning time…?

“How do you know any of this?”

The Sister coughed. Zoe gave her some water, and the whispered story continued.

“I am young and stupid. Can you believe I’ll be twenty next week? The Witch called to me, and I went. At the graveyard crossroads, she offered a deal. I took it.”

“What deal?”

“She transmuted my soul — my Skein, I supposed I should call it. She offered the choice of salt, and I took it. God has always struck down those he despises with salt, and with that power, I took control of the town. I made us a unified force against the mantis. When the polyp came, they chose me as leader. It was only natural. This all sounds grand, but you can’t imagine the fear we had… maybe you can… I’ve seen what you’ve done after all… Now, I must ask for your help.”

She faded, but Zoe gripped her hand.

“Tell me."

A wry smile formed on Sister Salt’s lips.

“The foul one burned time — and it singed me, weakened me — but they are hiding again. Searching for their allies. You must go to the graves because I can see the arc of her plan. She seeks the polyp, a creature like her will corrupt it — she will break the node from the system’s links.”

Zoe was breathless. Her chain had mentioned Cassy, but the Sister’s confirmation left her reeling.

“How can you know any of this?”

The Sister sank into her pillows. The voice from her lips creaked like a dead ship on the sea, salt crusting every surface, no sailor at the wheel, but still it flowed.

“When you burn away time I am left standing — salt does not burn — and when time knits itself back together, I see all the strands,” her eyes focused on Zoe so sharp it hurt. “I am quite mad now. I do not have long. You will leave, you must go to the one with eyes of glittering coin. But please, before then, go with my blessing, become the mayor, and… save these people.”

[Mayoral Quest Updated!]

[The Current Mayor wishes to pass the mantle on to you]

[Meet with the Polyp if you accept the responsibility of ruling these people]

Zoe’s hunger reignited. She clenched her fists to stop herself from lashing out.

“You fed them to bugs, and now you want to pass the buck to me?”

Tears streamed down Sister Salt’s face.

“I am weak. My only power is to know that they are coming. To know what they,” she pointed to the doorway with a frail finger. “Are doing with the Queen. You are strong. Defeat the mantis, the filthy ones, the traitors,” and this last word almost growled with youthful anger before she coughed again, fading, eyes growing dull. “Beware — the other islands — the other settlements — we do not have long before the tutorial ends, and when it does, they will come to take control…”

The Sister’s eyes closed.

Zoe leaned close, gripping her.

“Who? Who is coming to take control?”

Who else, she added silently, as she waited for the response.

“The Crimson Armada’s fresh recruits.”