Quite a crowd had gathered by the time we had arrived at Zero’s office. It seemed like half the Shades were here. Don’t you guys have jobs...no wonder we’ve got issues. They followed the trolley right up to Zero’s door before 58 turned around.

‘Clear off,’ he growled. No one moved. ‘I mean it.’ Everyone stayed put. 58 locked the crowd in a stare. ‘I’m going in to talk with Zero now,’ he said, ‘Don’t make me make him dock your pay.’ A few turned heads, but otherwise the threat had no effect. ‘I’ll take away paid leave...unpaid leave...Break privileges...’ Still nothing. ‘Fine! We’re never getting a new Vending machine!’ A collective groan went up

‘You can’t do that!’

‘They said they’d fix it last month!’

‘That’s not fair for us that have to stay here! One year, no snacks!’

One year? Whoops. That was me. I’d picked it up and thrown it at someone on my way out. Or something? Actually, I can’t remember. Maybe I was just hungry.

‘If you want it fixed, leave. Get back to work,’ said 58. The crowd dispersed, grumbling, but a handful of them remained. ‘That’s contingent on all of you leaving.’

‘You’re a stand-up guy, 58. We can take him to see Zero from here,’ said one. 67.

‘I’ve got it guys, don’t worry,’ said 58.

‘But you look so tired. Take a walk around the corner, and we can watch him for a a few minutes,’ said another. 42.

‘Yeah, a few minutes! That’s all it will take!’ The last one, 90, was trembling. His eyes were full of tears and fury. 58 stepped towards them.

‘I said, I’ve got it. You lot go cool off.’ The three Shades drew their weapons.

‘Stop protecting him, 58!’ shouted 67. ‘He’s going to pay for what he did! What he took from us; from all of us!’ His knuckles had turned white around the hilt, his feet planted firmly on the ground. The other two had the same air of conviction around them, blades drawn, ready to betray themselves to vengeance. 58 readied his own weapon. 10 didn’t look like he was interfering.

‘I’m telling you, walk away. Take one step forward and your life is forfeit. Please. 67, 42, 90, listen to me. You die here, and no one will carry on their precious memories.’

‘Step aside then 58! He’s the only one that needs to die today!’ yelled 90. His eyes were bloodshot, too many sleepless nights reliving his loss. Dark eyebags stained ashen skin, long black hair clumped together and reached past his shoulders. His face was marked by death, sunken cheeks and protruding bone. Of the three, he looked the worse. He was shaking, nothing but vengeance propping him up. Of the three, he looked the worst ‘No…not just today! When he resurrects, I’ll kill him again! And again! And until the end of time! I’ll do it, I’ll—’ He was cut short by Zero’s door suddenly opening.

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It was a wizened old Shade stepped through. Eons were etched upon his face and millennia were perched on his shoulder. Sharp eyes scanned the faces of the Shades making a ruckus outside his office. His eyebrows knitted together, his visage in thought at how to handle the situation in front of him. The air was still; breathing might push his mood one way or the other. His beady eyes swivelled to meet mine. His knotted hands combed through his beard as if trying to dig for any pearls of wisdom. Tch…old man! Let’s hear your judgement then!

‘Eh? You boys want a raise?’ he croaked out finally. ‘I’m afraid there’s nothing left in the mattress, but I had a bowl of candy here somewhere. Oh boy…’ he began patting his body, rummaging in his robes.

Clearly the only thing left in his beard was this morning’s breakfast. 90 collapsed on the floor. The tension had gotten the better of him. 58 winced and turned to Zero.

‘No, Zero. I bought 72 here to see you, like you asked!’ he said, his voice strained.

‘Eh? 72? But there’s only-’ he paused to count, ‘-five of you!’ Zero replied. 58 slumped.

‘Five? There’s six of us! Anyway, I’m talking about Number 72, the rogue Shade!’

‘Oh, and you’re him, are you?’

‘No!’ 58 yanked the trolley in front of him. ‘Here!’ Zero looked blankly at me.

‘I see. Been naughty have we, sonny Jim?’ The old geezer was starting to piss me off. 67 suddenly gave an anguished scream.

‘You see 58? What justice do we have? A man like him commits black murder and the one he’s supposed to answer to has lost it! The only reliable jury is one of cold metal!’

58 turned his attention back to the three. ‘Blunt your tongue, 67! You cannot talk about Zero that way! He’ll deal with 72, trust him!’

‘Come on 42!’ 67 held his blade up to his mouth and breathed, the sword beginning to change colour. No sooner had 67 and 42 began taking steps forward when a projectile ripped in between 58 and me. I jolted upright, as much as the straightjacket would let me. What! He’s shooting at us! He’s gotten much stronger!

But incredibly it was 67 who had sunk to the ground! Did he bet it all on the one attack? Then it clicked; the projectile hadn’t come from 67. It had come from behind us! I craned my head around to look at Zero, who was fumbling around with his belt. His beard had gotten caught in the buckle. I clenched my teeth. I really needed my sword.

42 had stopped dead. Astonished, he looked at the broken face of his comrade. ‘How did you…’ 58 was equally shocked, but he shook it out of his head. He advanced, point towards 42.

‘Don’t try it,’ he commanded as 42 feebly lifted his blade. ‘Just come quietly.’ Tears welled up in 42’s eyes, before he dropped his head and sheathed his sword. ‘Zero,’ called out 58. ‘I’ll take these two to holding, then I’ll come back.’

‘Hmm. I think I’ll drop dead before then, I’m not young you know! Even though I can do this!’ He began to hop from one leg to the other. ‘You should let this young man take care of them.’ He stretched out his long knobbly finger and at the other end of it was Number 10. Zero’s face had a whimsical, vacant stare. But when our eyes met for the briefest of seconds, I saw it. Oh, you cruel old man.

42’s breath caught. ‘No… 58! Please you can’t let him! Don’t leave us with that man!’ 10 stomped towards them, and 42 stumbled backwards. 58 grabbed his shirt.

‘I’m…sorry,’ he said, his eyes shifting. ‘I told you to give up before!’ 10 grabbed the three by their ankles and dragged them down the corridor, towards Sunki-Me. It was a while before 42’s screams stopped echoing down the corridors.

58 returned to me and Zero with a darkness about his face.

‘Well, come into my office then boys! Oh, but before we do,’ Zero’s face suddenly become deathly serious. ‘Take this, 58.’ He held out his fist and dropped something into 58’s hand. 58 looked fixedly at his hand, his upper lipped twitching in anger. It was a toffee candy.