Trish moved swiftly through the dimly lit alleyways, her keen senses alert to every sound. A few Reapers were in hot pursuit, their malicious intent evident in the echo of their footsteps and the ominous clinks of their weapons. Damian stood atop the adjacent building, his gaze focused on Trish's agile movements below.

As the Reapers closed in, Trish skillfully dodged their erratic gunfire, her body weaving through the bullets like a dancer in a deadly ballet. In a moment of opportunity, she spotted a small rock on the ground, snatching it up with a swift motion. With practiced precision, she hurled the rock towards the medical supply store's door, a loud clang echoing through the alley.

The distraction worked as intended. The Reapers, momentarily diverted by the noise, turned their attention to the store's entrance. Seizing the opportunity, Trish leaped effortlessly onto the roof, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Damian, positioned on the neighboring building, awaited her arrival.

With a graceful jump, Trish cleared the gap between buildings, landing next to Damian. Their eyes met, and without a word, they turned their attention back to the unfolding scene below. Oscar emerged from the store, a shotgun in hand, his face a mix of frustration and anger.

"What the hell is going on out here? This is your last warning!" Oscar shouted, his voice echoing through the alley.

The Reapers, however, paid no heed to his warnings. The confrontation escalated as they continued to pound on the door, undeterred by Oscar's threats. The tension in the air thickened as the inevitable clash loomed.

Damian, observing from the rooftop, whispered to Trish, "Let's see how this plays out. Oscar's a wild card in this situation. If he escalates the situation too much then the Reaper might decide to just kill him."

As if on cue, Oscar unleashed a torrent of warning shots from his shotgun, the blasts reverberating through the narrow alley. The Reapers, now faced with the real threat, momentarily scattered. Oscar, fueled by frustration and fear, shouted, "I warned you!"

The firefight erupted in earnest. Oscar, taking cover behind some medical supply crates, continued firing at the approaching Reapers. His shots were well-aimed, but the Reapers, driven by their chaotic nature, closed in relentlessly.

Damian, observing the chaos below, remarked to Trish, "Looks like Oscar's taking matters into his own hands. This might just work in our favor. All this will make others more likely to automatically lay the blame on the Reapers."

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Trish nodded, her attention divided between the unfolding skirmish and the plan they had set in motion. The Reapers, despite Oscar's resistance, pressed on, undeterred by the gunfire. The situation became increasingly dire as the echoes of the firefight resonated through the narrow alley.

"Damian, we need to move. Oscar's doing his part, and the Reapers are occupied. Let's make our move before things get messier," Trish suggested.

Without waiting for a response, she took another small rock and threw it at Oscar. Since the goal wasn’t to kill him but rather immobilize him and better yet even knock him out. Trish's precise throw achieved the desired effect. The rock, thrown with just enough force to distract but not harm, hit Oscar squarely. Startled, he turned back, momentarily taken aback. This brief distraction proved crucial as the Reaper seized the opportunity, swiftly closing the distance and incapacitating Oscar with a well-timed strike from the rifle's butt.

The confrontation in the alley took a sudden turn. The remaining Reapers, witnessing the unexpected intervention, hesitated momentarily. Trish and Damian, observing from the rooftop, saw that their goal had been achieved so they planned to leave without intervening.

"Let's go," Trish urged, and they leaped from building to building. The Reaper, now holding the unconscious Oscar, slung Oscar over their shoulder, and began walking back the way they came. Oscar would soon become another mindless Reaper and Damian and Trish could keep their secret.

With the Reaper taking Oscar to Sasha; Damian and Trish had no more worries and went back to the alleyway where Trish had been shot. Here Damian had left the boxes of medical supplies that Trish needed to take back. They needed to retrieve them before returning to the makeshift clinic.

Reaching the alleyway where the medical supplies were left, Damian and Trish spotted the boxes they needed to retrieve. The makeshift clinic required those supplies, and they couldn't afford to leave them behind. As they gathered the boxes, Trish spoke, "This worked out better than expected. Now, let's get back so that I can tend to those who need medical attention."

Reaching the alleyway where the medical supplies were left, Damian and Trish spotted the boxes they needed to retrieve. The makeshift clinic required those supplies, and they couldn't afford to leave them behind. As Damian and Trish gathered the boxes of medical supplies, they couldn't help but feel a massive wave of relief and satisfaction.

"We'll head back to the clinic and tend to the wounded. With Oscar out of the picture, we can continue playing our parts without interference," Damian said, his mind already focused on the next steps.

Trish nodded in agreement, the weight of responsibility evident in her eyes. "We need to ensure everything remains under control. The city is becoming more dangerous each day, and we can't afford any slip-ups."

The duo made their way back to the makeshift clinic, the boxes of medical supplies in tow. As they walked Damian said, “Hey Trish, I need you to do something for me.”

“What?” asked Trish to which Damian answered, “Well since you’ll be playing your old role of separating from Cole after finding out he’s the cause of the explosion. Once you do that I actually want you to gather a few Conduits like Amanda and a girl I met today named Isabella. Mentor them and help them control their powers.”

Trish looked confused as she asked, “Why would you want me to do that? Won’t the be more unknown variables who could change the story that we both know.”

Damian chuckled as he said, “Well we are trying to change the story in a controlled manner. Things like this tend to go wrong more often than right so I’d like us to have a few powerhouses just in case things go really wrong.”

Trish, though initially puzzled, began to understand Damian's strategic thinking. She considered his words and then nodded in agreement. "I see. So, you want me to prepare a contingency plan by mentoring other Conduits. That makes sense. Having a few powerhouses on our side could indeed prove invaluable if things take an unexpected turn."

Damian smiled appreciatively and added, "Exactly. It's always better to be prepared for any surprises. Plus, it might create a more stable environment for us in the long run. You never know when having a few allies with considerable powers could come in handy."