The sun's last remaining orange strands still shone above us, yet their intensity dimmed as minutes passed by. It's been a while since we divided our group and left the factory. I wondered what the others were doing, but put any questions I had aside for now. We had to find a safe place to relax as the night loomed closer and closer. Nevertheless, as things currently stood, I doubted such a location could possibly exist within the 4th District.

Mara led the way, scanning our surroundings with her judgmental gaze. I followed her through the gap between buildings, not knowing what she had in mind. She hadn't uttered a word in quite a bit. I wasn't sure if it was because she was nervous or whether there was something else at stake.

After a long period of stillness, I opened my mouth, wanting nothing more than for this wretched funeral-like silence to cease, and asked: "Do you have a specific location in mind?"

"Yeah," she offered a dismissing answer, not bothering to look at me. "Just lost in thought, Gray. That's all."

"You used to live around this area, didn't you?" I inquired, unable to shake off the uneasiness seeping through her pores.

She must be reminiscing about the past. It was the only reason I could think of.

"Not anymore."

Passing through the harsh streets this vacant neighborhood had to humbly offer, we lurked toward an evocative building, which also seemed to be our final destination. Or so I assumed as I noticed the sorrowful frown in Mara's eyes, as opposed to the steely glare this scout normally wears and I grew accustomed to.

The V-shaped construction appeared to be stable. There were no evident fissures to be concerned about, which could lead to the collapse of the entire structure. This is an excellent spot to seek shelter and plan our subsequent actions.

"Found it," she whispered.

"'Found it?'"

If she went out of her way to mention that much, it means this is a place she's been specifically looking for.

"Uh-huh." She nodded and reached forward, but stopped as she discovered the blood stains on the door's handle.

The grass reached up on the metal's surface, indicating that it hadn't been opened in a long time. A good sign. But what worried me was that we couldn't see inside through the small and shattered window. Squeezing through it was impossible, not only because of its size but also because something was blocking it. Maybe a wardrobe.

She pulled a keycard from her wallet and pressed it on the busted panel. "This is where I used to live."

"That's not going to work," I told her, leaning over her shoulder.

I was astonished to see how feeble her shoulders were in proportion to the backpack on her back, but I didn't comment about it out loud.

Yes. Mara refused to let me carry it ever since we left the factory. It was substantially lighter than before since we divided a part of the rations with Lucas, but it wasn't as if that was enough to alter its massive form.

"...Obviously... there's no electricity, and the panel is shattered. Of course, it wouldn't work," Mara muttered in self-mockery, drumming her knuckles against the metal door. She hurried away from me while fumbling through her pocket in an attempt to divert my attention from her reddening eyes.

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When I saw her pull out her keys, I had no idea how to console her. I'm not great at comforting others. And also, why would she keep them at all? I lacked the confidence to ask. But there was something about them that caught my attention. I saw it as an opportunity to impact this suffocating atmosphere.

"You have a charm attached to your keys?"

"It's cute," she replied, thrusting the rabbit-like charm into my face and daring me to disagree. Its fur was entirely white and its eyes crimson-red. I understood why she thought it was adorable, but there was another issue I needed to address.

"What now?" I asked, unsure whether her rabbit companion could assist us in any way "Do you have a plan to get in?"

"Yup! If you can't get in through the front," Mara stated calmly, spinning the keys on her finger. "Then we'll get through the back."

Despite my initial confusion, I realized what she meant as we turned the corner. In contrast to the front entrance, which required a keycard, the one at the back could be opened with your key. That was probably the reason why, although unable to enter the building at first, Mara didn't show as strong of a reaction as she usually does when things didn't go her way.

"I'm sorry to trouble you when you're injured," she apologized as she threw the backpack on the ground. "But could you keep an eye on the backpack for a while as I examine the door?"

"Not a problem."

Even if the weight was reduced, she wouldn't be able to fight to her fullest capacity while carrying it, no matter how nimble and athletic she was.

"Stay behind me, Gray," she whispered as she shoved the key into the corroded locker.

I was afraid it wouldn't work, but the clang that followed sent a sense of comfort through me, which disappeared just as quickly as it arrived the second Mara tried to open the door. It didn't even budge.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked, my gaze moving back and forth between her and the backpack I had to keep an eye on.

"I don't think there's something on the other side... Perhaps the vines are the cause," Mara grumbled to herself as she squatted down and reached for the reasonably clean saber in her sheath. She wiped it clean before leaving the factory, so it could be used for a bit longer. "They're simply too thick."

My gaze dipped down, only to see the dense tendrils firmly holding the door in place as I exclaimed: "I see."

She picked one in her hand and began cutting them, one by one. I couldn't help her in any way, and I knew she'd yell at me if I tried, so I just kept quiet. She finally stood up, sighing as she pruned the last of the vines.

"That was more tiring than expected..."

"Maybe we should rest before going in—"

"No," she shot me down in a tone firmer than before. "It's getting late. We're entering now."

She tried to open it again but to no avail. She only clicked her tongue and slammed her shoulder against it with a loud thud.

"I'll do it," I said, grabbing her shoulder.

"You're injured, Gray."

"And you shouldn't strive to do something you're clearly not cut out for."

I grabbed the handle and pressed my shoulder against the metal. I am bigger and stronger. It'd be more effective for me to deal with this matter.

"Fine. You can help," she grumbled. "Let's do it at the same time."

"One, two, three, and—" I pushed harder onto the ground with my legs. Mara, who could deliver a powerful blow to my chin with the back of her head if she wanted to, exclaimed: "Now!"

Nothing.

"Again!"

With another push, the door finally opened with a meek creek. The momentum swept me forward into a poorly lit corridor. I twisted to the side, braced for the impact as my shoulder collided with the floor. Meanwhile, Mara regained her balance by pressing her hand against the wall.

"Gray, are you okay—"

"Of course I am," I responded to her fears, causing her to sigh in relief.

A second or two later, the shadow of her hand emerged in front of me, twitching as I attempted to stand up.

"You've got a nice ass there."

"Where did that come from—" I tried to ask as she simply slapped it.

Ignoring my puzzled expression, she took a casual stride back and grabbed the backpack by its straps before flinging it inside. Smiling, she closed the door behind her.

"Sorry," she uttered, not seeming to be apologetical in the slightest. "I just couldn't refrain myself. But it's mostly on you, Gray. It's your fault."

Just how the hell is it my fault?