Early the next morning, Raya and Alex walk ahead of Kita and Caity as they approach the checkpoint to the second floor of the city. There are a lot more guards in the area and at the gate.

"The two of you really caused a mess," Alex sighs as he glances at the flurry of guards patrolling.

With a headscarf and clothing that fits in, Kita and Raya should be able to keep a low profile and avoid raising any suspicions.

"That's all Raya's fault," Kita chuckles.

"We can get to the second floor through Reiku's," Caity says.

Alex sighs, rubbing his forehead before groaning, "I don't know if that's a good idea,"

"Well, it's better than this idiot drawing attention," Caity presses.

"Hey! I said it was Raya's fault," Kita says.

"Are you forgetting how much we owe him?" Alex asks.

"Reiku is… a softy. He wouldn't want to hurt us," Caity half-heartedly reasons.

"Aah," Alex moans, weighing up the options.

"We've got coin," Kita says, "The princess is quite the pickpocket," She winks.

"How much?"Alex asks.

"About thirty thousand," Raya answers.

Alex chuckles with anxiety, "That won't be enough,"

"How much do you owe?" Kita asks.

"Uhh," Caity mumbles, "About eight hundred thousand,"

"What?" Raya and Kita blurt out.

"How the hell do you get into that much debt?" Kita chuckles.

"It's a long story," Alex grunts. "Let's just try our luck,"

The group turns down an alleyway before getting too close to the checkpoint. As they make their way through the shadowed corridor still lit by torches from the night before, Kita feels an unresolved itch pry at her before she blurts out-

"So, we dated-dated?"

"Ugh," The others all sigh at Kita's retention of the topic.

"What? It's not my fault I've forgotten," Kita barks.

"Isn't it?" Caity bites.

"The old Kita might have hurt you, but I'm not going to apologize for something I didn't do," Kita says before mumbling, "Or even know is true,"

"Funny," Caity says, "The old Kita could never apologize either,"

"Ooh, well in that case, I'm soo sorry,"

Caity grunts, biting her lip.

"Happy now?" Kita grins.

"Jackass," Caity sighs, before taking a deep breath.

"We could have had a whole 'reborn romance' thing if you were just nice when we first met,"

"Trust me when I say, that's the last thing I want,"

"And what do you want?" Kita asks, "Why are you here?"

Kita's only response is the patter of footsteps as the group wails through the alley. Kita knows she's being a little harsh right now, but she'd be lying if she didn't admit she's still a little pissed at Caity for offloading all of her trauma on her. Kita genuinely wants to know what happened between the two of them, and what happened with Chevo.

After a few turns through alleyways, they are at a dead end with a small staircase that leads down to a door.

"Where does it lead to?" Raya asks as they descend.

"That's definitely haunted," Kita says.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Alex lifts a finger to his mouth as he glances at both Kita and Raya. He then knocks on the door twice, followed by another two knocks.

"Reiku," Alex says loudly.

There's a moment pause before the sound of locks shift and click. The door drags as it slides open to reveal a large, unladylike lady. The lady's axe sends a ripple through the ground as Kita can't help but glare at the lady's fist, realizing it's the same size as her head.

"Has there ever been a man large enough to satisfy you?" Kita asks in awe.

"Kita!" Raya chides before the mountainous woman lets out a thunderous laugh.

"One," She grins, running her hand through her braids, "My husband,"

"Hey Grizelda," Alex sighs.

"Alex," The lady nods, "Caity,"

"We need Reiku to get us up to the second floor," Alex says.

Grizelda chuckles, "Reiku's still mad at the two of you,"

"Hopefully we can… remedy that," He responds.

"And your friends?" Grizelda asks.

"Raya and Kita," Alex says, pointing at each of them.

Grizelda passes each of them a nod before stepping aside, "Good luck," She chuckles at Alex.

As Kita steps through the door, a subtle rumbling sound is accompanied by the pungent smell of dampness and sweat. "Ugh," Kita sighs, holding her breath as her eyes adjust to see a vast, candlelit settlement of torn tipis and square homes made from sheets of steel. Kita takes a step forward with a heavy splash as she steps into a puddle.

"For fuck sake," She grunts under her breath, "Where the fuck are we?"

"Level zero," Alex says.

"There's a level zero?" Raya asks.

"Unofficially," He says, "This is where all the employees live,"

"Of course it is," Raya sighs.

"Why do they choose to live like animals?" Kita scoffs.

"You think they've chosen this?" Caity asks with a disgusted expression on her face.

"There's plenty of other cities," Kita says.

"Most of them had to brave the myst once to get here," Alex says, "This way," He adds as he walks towards a shack significantly larger than the ones within the settlement. As Alex opens the door, There are a dozen people seated at desks, assisting consulting citizens and filling in documents. A queue of poor folk coil around the room as they wait for the help desk and upstairs is an office where eight people are frantically scurrying around and in a panic.

"He's up there," Alex says as he makes his way to the flimsy, steel staircase.

"What's going on?" Caity asks Alex.

"I'm not sure," He responds.

As they approach the heated conversation atop the stairs, Kita can hear the arguing and clanging of feet against the metal floor.

"We've been waiting for too fucking long!" One of them yells.

"I don't give a shit," Argues a man with a thick beard and multiple piercings on his face. "I'm not gambling with their lives,"

"But Reiku, think about what they've just done,"

"I don't have to!" Reiku yells as he slams his fist into the table. "We're all living it,"

"They will use the guards to take them all, we need to do more than simply protest this," a lady says.

"If we use violence, they will use it tenfold," Reiku says, before glancing over at Alex and Caity with an annoyed snarl. "We will continue this in an hour," He says to his group, "Take a break,"

"Reiku," Alex half-heartedly smiles as he walks over to him.

"Where's my money?" Reiku barks.

"We're… working on it, alright?" Alex says, trying to keep the conversation calm.

"You're here to ask for a fucking favour when you owe me?" Reiku asks.

"Yeah," Alex sighs.

Reiku glances over his shoulder at Caity before yelling, "You too scared to say something?"

Caity chuckles dismissively before saying, "I don't have to,"

"Blue-haired woman and black eyes," Reiku calls out, "The two of you have made a lot of noise in my town,"

"You know us?" Raya asks.

"Me and every guard in the city," He chuckles. "Good job sticking it to those jerks,"

Reiku eyes whip back at Alex and grits his teeth before asking, "So?"

"We need to get to level three," He says.

"You'll need to get out of debt first if you want to afford it up there," Reiku scoffs.

"Please, we just need a way into Ms Eeve's store,"

"Ms Eeve, huh?" Reiku ponders, "Why her?"

"She's got a friend of Kita's… A kid she wants to get back,"

"Hmmm, but why do you want to go?" Reiku asks, glaring into Alex's eyes before passing the same glance to Caity. "Huh?"

"I tried asking her that already, she's not so responsive to it," Kita chuckles.

"Of course they aren't," Reiku scoffs. "These two are a real problem that way,"

"Look, we'll work to pay you back after the job is complete," Alex tries to reason.

"I guess he isn't very responsive either," Kita jests.

"Avoiding the question?" Reiku asks.

"It's more complicated than you think," Alex grunts.

"I've got time," Kita says.

"Alex, you either start talking to me, or leave my fucking floor," Reiku pushes.

Alex stammers as he turns to look at his sister.

"We want out," Caity says, freeing her brother from the burden of silence.

"Out of what?" Reiku asks.

"Everything," She says.