Sirens were blaring outside alongside the voices of shouting guards. Juro walked over to Alyssa’s melted body and fished for her Ticking Tryst, gagging when he finally got hold of it.

Bruno stood crying as he watched Juro shake off the liquid from the Tryst.

“Bruno. We need to get out of here. Can you carry Elizabeth?”

Standing still, he could only look at where Alyssa was lying, unmoving.

“Bruno, please, we need to go.” Juro lifted Morrigan onto his back, holding her legs at his side.

“She killed Alyssa,” he whispered. “Why should I help her?”

“Because Alyssa died for the rest of us to live. No one killed her except that Leith. So get up, Bruno, and come with me.” The words felt surreal to say, because Juro had to try and convince himself of that very fact — that Alyssa died for them, that it wasn’t their fault she died.

Bruno silently picked up Elizabeth and tried to stabilize himself, but she was significantly taller than him. Finally situated, Juro began to run out, looking through the windows for one that didn’t have the police’s light shining in.

“This one,” he said, seeing only darkness behind the window. “I’ll talk to you through the Tryst. We need to split up.” Juro picked up a piece of debris on the ground and smashed through the window before knocking the glass that still clung onto the frame.

Bruno silently climbed through the window after him, tears trickling down his face before falling down his chin, catching the light of the moon occasionally. Juro felt himself flood with shame as he looked at the image of Bruno weeping but being forced to flee. He knew Bruno would have completely broken down if necessity didn’t force him to sprint.

Then… why am I not crying? Juro began to run down into the woods, Bruno following behind him. Juro was definitely sad, undoubtedly so, but none of it felt real to him. The weight of Morrigan on his back, his aching body, Alyssa’s melted body seeping into his suit from the remnants on the watch, none of it. None of it was real.

Juro: Let’s run toward Morrigan’s place. We have an advantage there, since we know the land better. I’ll take the long way, you take the shortcut through the hospital. Okay? If you need a break, message, and I’ll meet up with you so we can rest together.

Bruno never answered other than his heavy breathing from beside Juro, his sobbing seeming to take up all of his energy. Before Juro could message again, that booming voice sounded out.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“They’re over there,” General Kristiansen roared atop a horse. Juro whipped his head around to see countless soldiers armed with swords, guns, and bows, some in cars and others on horses.

Juro: Run ahead of me! I’ll take care of them. Go through the thickets to slow them down.

Bruno quickly ran ahead, much faster than Juro despite carrying Elizabeth. Juro could already feel fatigue building in his body; relying on leftover fruit for sustenance clearly had its drawbacks. Beginning to panic as they were clearly nearing him, he ran through the sharp bushes, hissing through his teeth as the thorns scratched through his clothes and dug into his skin.

He could hear shouting continuing behind them, thundering footsteps quickly surrounding his sides. Panicking, he fumbled through his pocket again before grabbing a small, black ball.

Juro: Bruno, make sure Elizabeth’s eyes are closed. Close yours too, but try to keep running. I’ll tell you when to open them. Ignore any loud sounds, just keep running.

He had picked this up during his meeting with Josephine as well, but pocketed it before heading back to Alyssa’s place. He knew he’d be overstepping if he brought it in, although it was by no means lethal. Suddenly, he jumped in shock as he felt Morrigan shifting on his back. He was aware that she could have decomposed the neurotoxin in her body as quickly as she wanted, but she seemed to have delayed it, giving up after Alyssa’s death.

Morrigan: Closed.

He could feel the shirt on his back cling onto his skin, leaving him puzzled for a moment before he realized that Morrigan was crying, and her tears were soaking into his clothes. Juro clicked the button on the stun grenade and watched it flicker to life before he turned around and threw it as far back as he could, shutting his eyes and sprinting as fast as he could.

Even though he knew it was going to be blinding, he wasn’t prepared for the way that, even with his eyes shut, the inside of his eyelids was blazing white, flashing over and over. The deafening boom was completely disorienting without the strobe, and he felt himself falter. He moved the same hand to cover his face, gasping in shock. Josephine had warned him that the strobe light bomb was temporarily blinding anyone caught up in it, but it was a risk he had to take. Morrigan's arms gripped harder around his neck as she feebly tried to pull herself up more, beginning to slip off.

Juro finally gained some distance as he heard the frantic shouts behind him as he ran far ahead. He finally got into a rhythm for his running, his breath becoming deep and controlled.

Morrigan: I know a place to stop by. After we get past Alyssa’s home, make a left go through a forest and up the path. It’ll stop at some point, but keep going up the hill. When you make it to the top you can see my neighborhood below.

Bruno: Alright. We’re almost at Alyssa’s place.

Finally feeling relieved that things might work out, Juro quickened his pace. Morrigan’s tears had stopped and she seemed to finally gain some composure over herself.

“It’s not your fault, Morrigan. I just want you to know that.”

Juro could feel her tense up on his back before she held on tighter, still weakened by the neurotoxin.

Before he could say anything else, a large bang sounded out behind him just before a horrendous pain seared his shoulder. It hit him with unbelievable power, immediately shattering his arm and passing straight through his shoulder as it sent ripples out throughout his body.