Quint hadn't wanted to leave like she did but she didn't know what else to do. If he couldn't kill her pain anymore, she'd find someone who could. Maybe he was right about Sevlen but she didn't have the money.

It was embarrassing to admit to Fume, despite how open-minded he was. He wasn't like anyone else she had ever met. Certainly, not like her very first boss, Zido. That man had been a narcissist.

When she didn't worship Zido, he became controlling and wouldn't let her leave. She finally escaped after he got drunk and left one of the doors unlocked. Since then, she had been running. Fume was the only one who had let her in right away. It was the first night the Xenons had come.

Tonight, she'd need to put herself in danger in order to get her pain to subside. If she didn't, she wouldn't be able to work and that couldn't happen. When she got to Corte's house, the rain had begun to come down in sheets. She worried her pounding may not be loud enough but then he flung open the door and pulled her in.

It was only a tick before she had a towel thrust in her hand. He turned on the stove and threw in some Wrinder leaves. It sizzled and then slowly bubbled from within until the pink and black innards of the fruit were burst into a dry powder. He snapped the stove off and then they heard a scream.

He cut the lights and engaged the barred reinforcements for the home. Within seconds the entire house was a shield of metal. Despite the protection, they huddled down on the floor together in fear.

Their concoction was beginning to sizzle and Quint eyed the steaming powder in the pan. Corte rose up, dashed to the pan gripping it. He held it to him it closely. Quint was becoming desperate and he had to scramble up and pour it into an electric vial.

The Xenon fingers could be heard scratching the outside of the metal house but the rain helped to dampen them. After their screams and reaches were done, they moved on.

Corte squinted his eyes and peered out one of the metal slats. He waited until things were safe and then he turned to Quint.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" he whispered angrily.

"I'm sorry."

"This keeps happening. Your self control is diminishing more every day."

"You sound like Fume."

Corte was quiet. He ran his metal fingers over his head.

"You've been to him again?" he finally asked through shuddering metal lips. She stared down at the floor.

"It isn't like that."

"The hell it isn't. You haven't been organically injured for a while. You know that's a dead end. The only thing left for me to believe is you just want him close."

Again, Quint averted her eyes. She could see her pink cheek wires flickering in the reflection of his shiny arms.

"I'll work it off," she voiced, though immediately regretting it. He stared at her as tears collected at the edge of his sliver eyelids.

"Take it and then leave. I don't want to see you here again."

Quint stood up without hesitation and walked closely to the powder. Her face was glowing blue against the electric vial. Slivers of mini lighting bolts climbed up the glass. He removed it from its case and then handed it to her. She stared at him, then gripped it. She desperately popped open the bottle top, grabbed a metal straw, and snorted it.

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Within mere seconds, she was floating. She felt herself walking backwards. Then she bumped into the wall. The vial smashed upon the floor. Groggily, she stared down and then began laughing. She got on her hands and knees trying to eat and snort more. Corte grabbed everything, gave her a backpack, and then pushed her out.

"Get yourself together, Quint before you turn into Zido."

Normally, it would make her angry, but she simply laughed and flipped him off as she fell into the ditch. The last thing she remembered before passing out was the mud and rain filling her gaping wound.

Corte stared out the window at her. It was impossible to hold back his sobs. Years before, they had been happy, but dust had wrecked her. Eventually, he did anything to keep her close to him so he began supplying it. Their connection and small interactions were enough but tonight was proof that she was losing her ability to stay safe or maybe even alive.

In spite of the searing screaming pain in his heart, he turned on his computer. While waiting for it to boot secretively he tossed a chair across the room. The tears were pouring as he kneeled down. With trembling hands he picked up the metal straw and began to snort dust. Whatever intention he'd had by turning on his machine, was soon gone.

***

The rain had just lulled Fume into sleep when he heard a skipping beep. It was his security system. The beeping was accompanied by bright red lights. Could it be Quint?

He studied the warning and noticed that Corte's secure computer had connected online. Nothing else had come through, though. He slipped over to his curtains and pulled them aside. The rain wasn't letting up.

It wasn't like Corte not to at least message. Being closer to Xenon zones, made him obsessively careful. He was meticulous about how he used his electricity. Something was wrong.

Fume walked to the door and pulled on his boots. He'd have to use his bike. Otherwise, it would take forever. If he misted, he'd never arrive. He needed gravity.

It took a few attempts as he hammered his foot down to get the engine started up. The screams could be heard directly in front of him. Just as he saw their black garbs float up over the top of the next hill, his bike came to life.

The rain made the road slick but his smaller tires helped to control and avoid hydroplaning. He sped, leaning into the bike in an attempt to help it go faster. Corte's was five miles away.

Away from the city, electricity was sparsely used. It was mostly funneled to the middle where everyone gathered and spent money. The streets were very dark but he knew them by heart. He and Corte had been friends before either had met Quint. They had bonded after Fume had gotten into some trouble on forty-seventh.

The final hill came quickly and he caught air jumping the bike and sliding in front of Corte's house. He didn't want to turn it off for fear it would stall or maybe not start at all but he had no choice. The Xenons were close by.

Fume frantically assessed the area. He rushed to Corte's door. The metal shutters weren't on tightly anymore. Fume could see a figure on the floor. He pounded on the door but there was no movement. Then he forced the door open with a final slam. The siren of Corte's alarm went off intermittently. Fume rushed to his friend's side. While crouched he could see that Corte had fallen into the dust. He had continued to inhale it while unconscious. Fume felt for a pulse. There was none.

While wondering what to do he changed focus in an instant when he heard robotic gargling. He rushed to the door and that is when he saw Quint. She was climbing up out of the ditch, covered in mud. Her circuits in her face were exposed, wet, and muddy. Then there were the screams.

Fume sprinted to Quint while she attempted to coordinate well enough to stand. Fume pulled her to her feet and then abruptly turned her around. He pressed just underneath her last rib on her left side frantically feeling for the button. Finally, his fingers recognized the ridged indentation. He pressed it.

Quint stood completely straight. She turned to him.

"What happened?"

"We need to leave!"

They raced to his bike as several black cloaks floated toward them. Their voices were in unison as they screamed. Their echoes parted the rain. Miraculously, the bike started on the first try. Quint rode on the back and limply held his waist as they peeled out into the night.

It was difficult for Fume to see as the rain hammered on his helmet. With Quint's built in sense of direction, she was able to guide him to his chosen spot. As she pointed, they finally got to another house. He kept the bike running as she hopped off.

"Where are we?"

"It's Sevlen's."

"You're not coming?" she asked in surprise.

"Get inside and healed up," he commanded. "Corte is dead because of you." Quint closed her mouth suddenly and nodded somberly. Fume immediately left. There was no other place he could be but at his apartment. He needed to try to connect to the one other Misted he had ever found since he left.