lyssa [https://imgur.com/VUePKrs.png]

As it often happened, Lyssa sat on the edge of her new bed and she was reminded of Bernard, reminded that it had belonged to him and reminded of the horrific way he had died. And the way she had left him to die, unable to step in. Not wanting to step in.

But she came learned to deal with those memories by pushing them away, hiding them to the recesses of her mind and focusing on what was around her. She was with Sarah finally and the apartment they were staying in was quite safe, it seemed. There hadn’t been a single assault on it, everyone was bed three meals a day, and they were free to visit the nearby graveyard, albeit with a large enough group.

Compared to what she had dealt with the first night and while being supported by Teddy, life was good. Great, even.

That was until the announcement.

Lyssa looked across at the bed opposite her, where Sarah sat, a forlorn look on her face. Abel had been ushered away up the stairs before she could get a word in. If they hadn’t been in a building full of Kara users, she would have been worried why he was being led away.

“I think I’ll stay,” Sarah was saying. “I don’t want to go out and do anything. There are crazy people out there and I don’t have any way to defend myself. It’s probably for the best if I just stay here.”

“We need to see what the others are doing. If most people are staying here, then that’s what we’ll do. Otherwise, it may be more dangerous to stay here alone.”

Her friend looked towards the room’s single window. “There’s no way it will be safer out there. Even if everyone else goes out, we can hide away in a closet or something. Right? There will be crazy people with Commands roaming the streets and trying to hurt each other for those sphere things.”

Lyssa pinched at the bridge of her nose. “You’re starting to sound like Annie with all your worrying and anxiety. But you don’t have all the reasons to be afraid that she did.”

Sarah gave her a hard look but didn’t say anything for a few moments. Then she dropped her head and let out a breath. “You’re right. I think I’m just so accustomed to her worried rants that it feels odd not vocalizing the possibilities. She wouldn’t want us cowering in fear.”

“No, she would try hiding in the closet and we’d be dragging her down the stairs to follow the group.”

They both shared a laugh. “You’re right,” Sarah said. “I think that’s exactly what would be happening if she...” she trailed off, letting the words hang. She wiped at her eyes as tears began to form. “I’m just glad we’re finally together. I hated thinking that you were out there alone but I was too scared to go out. I’m sorry, Lys, I was just so scared. I didn’t want to abandon you.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Hey,” she said, moving to sit beside her friend. “You didn’t. I would have done the same thing in your situation.”

“No you wouldn’t have. You would have followed me onto the streets, ensured that we stayed together.”

Lyssa frowned. “You would have followed me, but I didn’t let you. That’s why I ran off, remember? I wanted you at least to find happiness in the city. I knew I would be back here one day, I felt it. I just needed to fix my Karma levels.”

Her friend glumly nodded her head. “I would have dragged you away from the group and made you stay with me. I’m not as strong as you are.”

“Oh, none of that stuff.” She patted her friend on the back. “Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. I don’t mind being alone one bit. You’ve always been a caring person who likes being surrounded by people, that’s why you originally started helping Annie, right?”

Sarah gave another nod. “I guess. I’m-”

The door swung open. Abel stood, holding onto the handle as he surveyed the situation. “Is this a bad time?”

Lyssa laughed. “No, you’re fine.” Then she remembered him being ushered off and she stood, turning to him. “And where have you been? I saw a few men, including Daryl, leading you up the stairs.”

He shut the door behind himself. “They brought me to one of their meetings.”

“Meetings? And why did they invite you?”

“Because I won the Arena event,” he said quickly trying to move on. “There was a table full of people and they were discussing about what to do for the event tomorrow.”

Lyssa dropped her act and met eyes with Sarah for a heartbeat. “What are they planning to do?”

“Everyone will be divided into groups and will be given segments of the city to explore. They were going to break us apart so that we’d have more Commands in our group, but I convinced them to keep us together.”

“What about this apartment?” Lyssa asked dismayed by the lack of relief on Sarah’s face. “Is anyone going to stay here?”

“A handful of people will keep watch, yes.” Abel said, then hesitated.

She furrowed her brow as she looked at him. “What is it?”

“Also, I guess the girl Zero is the one user in the city who has ten Commands. Five levels in Kara and five levels in Bara.”

Lyssa’s eyebrows lifted. It made so much sense. She had already seen the girl use three Commands, which was highly unusual by itself. They had all been quite powerful as well. Yet hearing the words sent her into a moment of shock.

“But she’s so young. How is that possible? I mean...even Bernard didn’t have a Command. The three of us only have one shared between us, not counting your Special Command. How could she possibly have ten Commands?”

“I’m not sure,” he shook his head. “But I guess she is known as the Queen and has been a terror to other parts of the city. She effortlessly demolishes groups and even buildings if they get on her bad side.”

“The Queen?” A shiver ran down her spine as her empty and unmoving gaze appeared in her memories. So young and carefree. Now she saw that carefree attitude was likely because she had five levels in each Karma rank.

She also remembered several days before, as they stood at the city’s edge, bathed in the blue glow from the barrier, her urge, her body’s desire to step forward and push the girl, nudge her into the burning laser. She remembered her hesitation and began to wonder how many lives she could have saved by listening to that urge. By pushing Zero into the glowing barrier surrounding the city and letting the pieces fall where they may.

But she’s just a kid, she told herself as memories of sitting in terror on the streets flashed back to her. Screams and crashes, hunger tearing into her stomach, tears staining her cheeks as she quivered hiding for hours through the night. All because of that girl, because of Zero, because of the Queen speaking two words, one Command. Complete Override.

“Lyssa?” Sarah asked at her side.

She quickly shook the thoughts and recollections out of her head. “Sorry,” she said. “It’s just shocking.”