As Adon ran down the small suburban street that led to Ankita’s shop, he prayed that both Ankita and Chuck were safe. He knew Chuck would be alright–even without an infinite gene, Chuck was the most powerful person Adon had known. But with the safety of Ankita, Adon was not so sure.

Adon had always known that Ankita was a good fighter. As kids, Chuck had taught both of them how to properly fend off opponents who were bigger and stronger than them. To do this, Chuck would initiate a sparring match between the two of them on a daily basis, monitoring them closely to track their improvement. And during each and everyone of these sparring matches, Ankita failed to lose.

But Adon and Ankita had not sparred in years, and Adon knew that it was unlikely that either of them could take on an army of seventy-five Ikhurites alone. So he presumed that maybe, if he were to support Ankita, the two of them would have a fighting chance.

As Adon approached Ankita’s shop, however, he realized that he was too late. The shop was on fire, with countless Ikhurites surrounding its perimeter, preparing for Ankita’s attempted escape.

How did they find out where she lived? Do they even know her name? How did they find it?” Adon thought fearfully, leaning back into a patch of shrubs located alongside the road. He knew he had to do something–anything to save her. But the question was, what could he do? He certainly couldn’t fight…

“Kid! What are you hiding for?”

Surprised, Adon jumped up from the bush, and hurried to the Ikhurite, “Sorry sir. I was on- on a jog, and I was surprised to see-”

“On a jog? So late at night?” The Ikhurite questioned skeptically.

“I usually run late into the night,” Adon whispered timidly, “It helps me feel better before going to sleep. Anyways sir, do you need anything?”

“Do you know this girl?” The Ikhurite took out a picture of Ankita.

So, they do have her identity.

Adon shook his head.

“Well, if you see her, please let us know,” the Ikhurite said, pointing to the building, “She manages, and lives in this place right here.”

Adon nodded silently.

The Ikhurite sighed, “Kid, we were recently informed that this event was not just an average house fire. No…” he stated pointing to the picture, “this was an attack. An organized, and intentional attack on this girl. And if the attacker finds her, she will be in some real deep danger.” The Ikhurite smiled, “So please if you happen to see her, let us know at once.”

Adon nodded and began to walk in the opposite direction.

So, they don’t have her yet, Adon smiled, that means there's still hope.

However, Adon had absolutely no clue where in the world Aknita could-

“Adon! Over her!” A voice whispered from a section of shrubs on the opposite side of the road.

“Ankita!?” Adon screamed.

“Shhh, get over here stupid, they are still looking for me.”

Adon climbed into the bushes, “I was so scared, I thought you-”

“Shut up, they're coming!”

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Adon silenced himself immediately.

“So where are they?” An old, disgruntled Ikhurite questioned.

“I heard a voice right here,” a younger Ikhurite answered nervously, “I’m pretty sure I saw a person jump into these bushes too.”

Ankita glared at Adon.

“It’s probably just a squirrel or a rabbit,” a smaller, red-headed Ikhurite laughed pointing to the younger one, “I told you this one's stupid. We should have gotten rid of him ages ago.”

“Sir, I-I am so sorry,” the younger Ikhurite stuttered, “Maybe if I just look through the bushes-”

“You would dare ask to look through, and damage these bushes?” The older Ikhurite angrily responded, “Do you know what these bushes are? These are Raam bushes: the sacred bushes of Edenia. If you were to touch one of them, I would have no choice but to-”

As if on cue, the Ikhurite tripped and fell into the bushes just feet away from Adon and Ankita. They both held their breath in utter horror as the enraged older Ikhurite continued to speak.

“It seems you are unworthy. When it came to common sense your high grades and kindness amounted to nothing,” the elderly Ikhurite despairingly stated, “I truly thought you had potential, but I guess it’s all over now.”

The Elderly Ikhurite pulled a metallic-cylinder-like object out of his pocket.

The young Ikhurite stared at the older one in utter horror, “Please sir. Please. I’ll do anything. My family is very rich: we have land, money, and jewels. They can give you anything you want. Just please spare-”

As the Lazer pierced the young Ikhurite’s chest, his shouts were halted, leaving behind only the eerie silence of the night.

“They never learn,” the Elderly Ikhurite muttered to himself, walking back towards the house, “I’ll have to inform the commander to be more demanding of our new recruits.”

After waiting in complete silence for what seemed like an eternity, Adon and Ankita creeped towards the dying Ikhurite.

“K-kill me- please,” the Ikhurite painfully whispered, a dark river of red flowing down his chest.

“Let's try to save him,” Ankita whispered, averting her eyes from the body, “There may still be hope.”

“N-No… Don’t… want to live,” the Ikhurite wheezed, “If live… so much worse. C-could have used… gene on lieutenant… can control fire. B-but if did… Zueki come… and torture.”

“We still have to help you,” Adon answered fearfully, “we can keep you hidden and safe.”

“N-no… kill,” the young Ikhurite took a laser out of his pocket and handed it to Adon, “P-p-please.”

Adon stared at the Lazer, its crude design reflecting against the moon’s luminescent light.

“Divine one have mercy,” he whispered, clicking the button on the back of the object while aiming it at the young Ikhurite’s skull.

Ankita and Adon stared pitifully at the dead Ikhurite. They had never seen an Ikhurite before, let alone, they hadn’t even known the orders Ikhurite soldiers were told to follow. But after seeing the murder of one Ikhurite by another right before their eyes, they immediately understood the people who ran this country: they were a group ruling through the clutches of terror.

“Ankita,” Adon whispered, “let's leave.”

“Yeah,” she answered, still in shock.

Adon stood up and took Ankita’s hand as they began to creep through the bushes. It was just moments later, however, when their greatest fears became reality.

“What are you doing, boy.”

A cold, chilling shock seeped through Adon's bones. He suddenly had the urge to grab Ankita and run as far as he possibly could–to a kingdom so far from Edenia that no one, not even an Infinite, could find them.

Adon shook frantically, “How did you-”

“Find you?” Zueki interrupted, “Boy, I have known your location ever since you left the tavern.”

Although he was still standing, it was clear that his body had been heavily burdened by his fight with Chuck. Even his voice sounded strained and weak, with wheezing sounds appearing periodically.

“How-”

“You can't run from me.” Zueki painfully laughed, an army of Ikhurites standing behind him, “I told you before, ‘there is no escaping the call of the divine.’”

“But weren’t you fighting Chuck? There is no way you could’ve defeated him in such a short amount of time. He is so much stronger than-”

“Oh, you mean that divgin?” Zueki jested, “He was strong, but he was nothing compared to me. I can take you to him if you want. His body is anxiously waiting in the tavern for your arrival.”

“What did you-”

“Oh, come on, boy, and you too girl,” Zueki said, an enormous smile crossing his face as he wrapped his arms around Ankita’s and Adon’s necks, “I’m so excited. This will be an amazing treat.”

Ankita and Adon stared pitifully at each other. Although they both knew what was to come, they were greatly unprepared; it was clear that neither of them was ready to see the truth.