I shut the door of Reimer’s snug little guest room. Sunlight streamed across the wall, shadows of trees along the road. The branches danced in the wind, a steady rhythm churning. I wandered down the hall, each step shaking off the memories of last night. That's the last thing I want to think about now.

Raine’s door swung open. She poked her head out, her hair flopped over her face. "Good morning, sleepy head." She yawned, stretching out her arms. A baggy t-shirt and shorts, she paced into the hall. "Everyone else is up and out of the house." She scratched her cheek, blinking a tired eye. "I've been told there's coffee downstairs."

I nodded my head. "That sounds good."

Her face lit up.“Oh, right! Wait just a sec.” She disappeared back into the room. A crash followed by thud; I stood waiting at the door. What is she doing? The drawer slammed shut. Raine came back out, a stack of books and papers in her grip. “I almost forgot about your maps.” She dropped the pile in my hands.

I blinked at the stack, shuffling through. "Thank you..."

Raine waved her hand. "Eh, would've given 'em back sooner if I remembered." She tapped the top book. “Why are you so interested in ruins?”

“Ruins?” I mumbled, flipping open the book. Do I have a book on ruins?

“Ya.” Raine grinned. “Those main dots on your map, they line up with actual ruins. Been there myself. There’s nothing there but overgrown rumble, at least a mile around each sight.”

She noticed that? I shut the cover, giving a nod. “Those dots are the capitals of Tetrad, guess Avarice didn't dare to build over them.”

“Or anywhere near them.” Raine tapped her chin. “That’s a little bizarre, isn't it?”

"I've never thought of that...that is strange." I traced the title with my finger. Avarice doesn't care much about preserving history, and even if they did, why avoid those sites? I need to do more digging. “Is it alright if I leave these here...just for the time being.”

“Sure, whatever. I can put 'em back.” She took the pile back, slipping into her room. Things being tossed around, I heard the drawer shut again. She stepped out. Another swing of her prosthetic leg. From the knee down, pieces shifted with her steps, the movement mimicking her gait. The moving parts worked seamlessly.

She caught my stare, biting her cheek. She looked sheepish. "I told you about the fake leg before...remember the whole pirate thing-" she rolled her eyes "-it was a bad joke."

“No, I just-” I winced. “It’s an impressive piece of tech. You wouldn't know by gait that it was fake.”

Raine grinned wide. “Ya, I know.” She knocked on her knee. "Snagged this beauty as soon as it hit the market." She bounced between her feet, ready to lunge. "If I expect to keep up with the competition, I need a solid stance."

I laughed at her fake swing. "Very intimidating."

"Battle scars only look intimidating-" She held up her hands, a finger on each hand gone from its place "-they're really quite annoying." She's missing fingers too?

"Raine…" I whispered, my eyes going wide.

"It's okay, I'm just a patchwork of missing pieces." She lowered her hands, giving a shrug. "The fingers are for stealing rations, the leg was from a beam falling in a riot-" she pointed to the eye patch "-and the famous eye was being tortured for the names of other revolutionaries," she snorted, almost as if it were a happy memory.

"That's awful, Raine." I blinked at her, gaping. I can't even imagine.

She shrugged her shoulders again, avoiding my eyes. "This is old news, you shouldn't feel sorry for me." She headed for the stairs, turning back. "Anyway we gotta stay focused, by the looks of you last night, things aren't going to plan?"

"Not really…" I frowned, my head circling back to the argument with Jude. I don't know if I can trust him. I don't even know how to understand this. Raine tilted her head, waiting at the top of the stairs. She knows too...I took a deep breath, inching closer. “Raine...I need to ask something, and I need you to tell me the truth."

"What is it?"

"I need to know who I'm fighting, who's coming after me." I paused, that little coincidence coming back to mind. "Is it...Kendall? Is he the shadow man?"

Raine gave a nervous twitch, a glazed look in her eye. "If you already know...then I don't need to tell you," she said, heading straight down the stairs.

I stomped after her. "Wait, Raine! Is that it?"

Raine turned back, biting her lip. “I don't know what else to say...I may have kept your maps, but I have told him other stuff about you."

A shiver ran down my spine."Is that what he paid you to do? At the party, breaking into my apartment."

She sighed, stopping on the last step." He wanted to know about you, anything I could gather.”

I raised an eyebrow. "Do you know what he wants with me?"

Raine shook her head. "Victor's not a talkative guy, he didn't stop to tell me."

"Okay." I frowned. Not knowing leaves us at a disadvantage.

She waved her hand, continuing down the hall. "I wouldn't worry too much about him, Phyn. You still have that crazy plan of yours."

I froze. "Ya...that's right." But what will I do once I get to Vitriol? I have nothing.

Raine swung open the kitchen door, shooting a grin back. “I’ve been doing some thinking, and it might actually have some potential...with all the fuss around teleporting, you'd make a good distraction.”

"The Pacesetter already thinks I'm going to return, why not use their own expectations against them?" I crossed the tiled floor behind Raine."Hopefully we can get a better understanding of what they're after.”

"Good thinking." Raine pulled out the carafe, swirling the half pot of coffee.

Sunlight peeking through the window, it danced across the counter top. Blue skies past rooftops, just beyond our view. I leaned against the counter. "It does seem strange though…" I tapped my fingers on the drawer. "If Kendall and the Pacesetter are working together, why didn't he know I was right away?"

Raine pulled two mugs from the cupboard. "That is interesting, they may be less cozy than they appear," she said, filling the two cups. "I don't think Victor knew the Commander was going to show up in Idyllic either...not his style."

That would line up with what he said. "There's a lot of moving pieces." I straightened my shoulders, taking the mug. "Why did you tell Jude to leave?"

Raine sighed, "I don't want a dead Commander. That gives the council a perfect excuse to extend their powers, making this war even more complex than it already is.”

I pursed my lips. “And...with Helios?”

Raine stiffened, moving towards the fridge. “You wouldn’t understand that.” Shuffling through the shelves, she pulled out a carton of cream.

“Why would you say that?” I followed after her.

Raine fidgeted, shaking her head. "Because you're good...heroic even. My hands have plenty of blood on them." She stared through her missing fingers "Some good, some bad, and I wouldn't change it."

I poured a little cream in, stirring to a lighter colour. "I may have never killed anyone, but I've tried too." I rested the spoon on the counter. "I can at least understand wanting someone dead for the greater good."

Raine gave a weak smile. "It gets complicated doesn't it?" She hunched her shoulders, her eye glassy. "Right when you knock off one villain, two more just come up...It's hard to know where the bloodshed ends."

I nodded, staring down at the face in my cup. And where does this end? You can't face a war without bloodshed, even if you wish to save everyone. I took a breath, the weight heavy on my shoulders. If this place is as miserable as when we started, then we haven't really won.

Raine pulled a cereal box down from the fridge, breaking open the top. “You know what I've always wanted to do is crash one of Alaric’s stupid national broascasts. He talks so stiffly, wears his whole military get up. He has a whole room for it and everything, it’s the vainset thing,” Raine stifled a laugh, tucking the box under her arm. “Don’t know what we’d say...it’d be a waste of time,” she snorted. “We should direct our efforts to getting battle plans or infiltrating their communication channels.”

I followed behind her, taking another sip of coffee. “Murray’s plan had something to do with satellites. We could borrow from that?”

Raine waved her hand. “I know nothing about satellites, but if you're still in contact with his team, you can see if anyone’s interested in lying to their government.”

I rested my mug on the table. “I can do that. Any old revolutionary buddies-”

“No,” Raine said sharply. “Anyone still left isn’t worth trusting, trust me.”

“I was just asking."

Raine took a fist cereal, crunching on it. "I do know a place with plenty of weapons, and amo. There's an abandoned military base along the Vitriol border, practically untouched. It's dangerous to get to, but with a teleporter?" She raised an eyebrow.

I laughed, stealing the cereal box from her. "That does sound promising." I took a fist full leaning back in my chair. "I can see what the others have to say, and come back."

Raine pursed her lips. "Better to know what resources we have, before we get too deep."

"Sounds like a plan." I nodded in agreement, continuing the steady intake of caffeine and dry cereal. Warm for late morning, something lazy in the air. To just sit with a clear head, not looking over my shoulder The first time I've felt normal since all this started.

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I took a last sip of coffee, pushing my chair back. "We'll figure out our next steps when I get back."

"Alright, see ya," Raine mumbled, leaning back, she shut her eye. I snorted at her, stepping back from the table.

I searched for my heartbeat, letting the rhythm carry me. The room disappeared, Oliver's hospital room built up around me. The beep of monitors in the background, the smell of sanitizer thick in the air.

I frowned over the rail, Oliver's bed sheets were tossed on the floor, no one napping. I sighed, stepping back. Where did he go? I turned my head.

Victor Kendall sat in the hospital chair behind me. A stiff blazer and an impeccable grin. "Well, Phynley, isn't this a surprise." My heart stopped, panic rising up to swallow me. He leaned back in the hospital chair, that twinkle still in his eye.

"What...are you doing here?" I kept my voice steady. Wanting to run, my feet felt heavy.

Victor chuckled, hitting the arm rest. "I was looking for the elusive Dr. Strong, but to my luck I've found you instead."

I don't know what to do. I swallowed my nerves, taking a breath. "Why is that lucky?"

"Because it's time we had a real chat, don't you think?" He tilted his head, the periwinkle in his eyes caught the sunlight. "Jude's been in a mood all day. Am I wrong to think you're the reason?"

What do I say to that? "We've been disagreeing."

Victor chuckled, "Is that what you call it? It's alright to say he's being controlling. Jude's ugly side, you'll get used to it." Victor straightened the sleeves of his tweed jacket. "Things go smoother if you act subordinate, let him have his pathetic reach for control, while you steer him where you want him to go."

I inched closer to the door. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because, we don't have to be at odds, Miss Okie." He stood up from his chair, marching forward. "You want to change the world and so do I."

I tensed my shoulders. "I think the world we want is very different."

"True." Kendall gave a laugh, light, and joevelle. "But why not convince me of your desired future, Ms. Okie? I am open to seeing the world your way."

Like hell he is. "Your speech is more persuasive than Kismet's," I growled.

His face went blank, a slight smile curving up. "Kismet doesn't know what I know." Which is what? I cleared my throat, trying to read his eyes. Kendall laughed, "That is a lovely picture of you. Yes, it really is quite incredible."

Is he talking about the atlas? I stiffened, holding my gaze. "So you have a picture of me in an old book, all that tells you is that it's a forgery."

Victor shook his head. "You're too genuine to be a con."

I snorted at him. "I've scammed plenty of people before, did just fine."

"Sure, but did any of those ideas come from you?" He tilted his head. "Really, Ms. Okie, don't jest with me."

I squirmed, crossing my arms. He can't know...he can't. "What's your theory then?"

He paced around me, shaking his finger. "Theories, theories, I prefer facts." He turned back. "The atlas was last in the hands of a Dreamer, he's the one who drew your picture." Kendall stopped, cracking a grin. "That leaves two options, either you're a prophecy, or you've wandered into the wrong time, Wanderer."

No point in denying it. I scowled at him. "I still don't understand what you want from me?" I stepped back. "To go to the trouble of kidnapping-"

He straightened his shoulder. "I have spent years rebuilding, reworking...If you're not on my side, get out of the way. Stay away from Jude." I frowned at him. Why would he say that? Victor sighed, circling back. "You're a catalyst, Ms. Okie, and as much as I admire that, I can't have you destroying my progress."

"What do you mean by progress?"

"Forward motion? There is always room for growth." He stretched out his arms. "Progress is everything."

"And what about the past…?" I gritted my teeth. "You don't think history will catch up with you?"

Victor's eyes gleaned. "I hope it does, the old world is nothing to bat an eye at. You have heard of the Remedy, haven't you?"

I froze, my mind reeling."You know about the…"

"Of course, their influence has been significant. An ideology that has shaped the world," Victor hummed.

"Violence shaped the world more than their ideology," I hissed.

He nodded his head. "True, but if you want to understand why they did what they did, their beliefs are a good place to start."

"Sure, but why is that important-"

"Kismet showed the table, yes? The story of the gateway, the decay of all life power. The Remedy is meant to counteract what happened that day. Let die, what must die and rectify what can be rectified." He gave another slippery smile. "The Remedy is a transformative process."

"You sound enthralled." I rolled my eyes.

"I am," he laughed. "It's an ambitious project, what they set out to do." He raised his chin, hiding his snarl. "I am allowed to be inspired by the past."

The room seemed to spin. This is dangerous...I tried to swallow, my mouth dry. "What are you trying to do?" I muttered.

"I'm not going to tell you." His cold eyes fixed on mine. "You're right about one thing, it's up to you." He slipped his hands in his pockets, pivoting for the door. "You decide to fight me, and I'll tear you to shreds." His voice disappeared out of the room, leaving me alone in the hospital room.

My heart raced like a drum, pounding in my head. Five hundred years and we've learned nothing. I fell to my knees, stealing a shaky breath. How can he not understand? I buried my head in my hands, resting on the dusty floor. I peeked out between my fingers, blue skies through the window. If Kendall thinks he can tear me to shreds, he's got another thing coming. I lifted my head, staring resolute. I can carry the world if I have to-

A loud crash beside me, I jumped. The closet door flung open, Oliver falling out. I scattered back. He waved his arms, motioning for me to be quiet. I gawked at him, eyes wide. He took a careful step to the door, peeking down the hall. Oliver whispered, "Sorry if I startled you."

"Were you there the whole time?" I got to my feet, dusting myself off.

"Hiding from Kendall, yes." Oliver laughed nervously, tripping over his feet again. "He's been a vulture since you left."

I hung my head. "He's the shadow-man."

Oliver's face fell. "I gathered that much from what I overheard…did the Commander tell you?"

I shook my head. "I never asked him, we just fought." I took a deep breath. "I'm not sure where he stands, but..." I bit my cheek, raising my head. "I got my information from a certain mercenary."

Oliver's eyes went wide. "You found Raine?" I nodded my head, his eyes going more wild. "You actually found her...and she's willing to help us?"

"Ya, I did the impossible."

He furrowed his brow. "Are you paying her?"

I laughed, "No, I don't have any money. I appealed to her human decency, and I offered her anything they'd pay me."

"Are you serious?" He scratched his chin. "And that worked?"

I crossed my arms. "Of course, I know what I'm doing."

"Sorry I ever doubted you," Oliver snorted, straightening his shoulders. "So what's the next move, captain?"

I grinned at him. "So you're on board with the plan, Dr. Strong?"

"It's not a question for me." Something hollow in Oliver's eyes, he cleared his throat. "I don't have anything else..."

The hum of machines, a beep in the background stole my words. He's already lost his wife and daughter. Silence thick in the air, a somber song of white noise. If I had more courage I would ask him about them, how they died, what they were like. The look in his eyes kept my mouth shut. Maybe when this was all over I would ask.

Another beep, I stared up at the ceiling, taking a shaky breath, "I'm supposed to be some sort of legendary hero… and I can't think of a single fight I've won."

"Is it winning that matters?" he said, "I don't think so…" his voice trailed off. Footsteps stomped around the corner, we both turned.

Max poked his head in the door. "Oliver- Phyn?" He blinked at me, turning his head between us. "You're back and-"

"What's going on?" Oliver walked towards him.

"It's Lewis…" Max's eyes brightened. "He's awake."

We barreled out the door, skidding past nurses and doctors. Feet fighting to break the distance, I ran straight for his door, slowing as we approached. What am I going to say? I slowed my steeps, Oliver and Max passing me. The door swung back. I creaked it back open, following behind.

Gwen turned her head, sitting beside his bed in a green turtleneck. She raised an eyebrow, smirking at me. "See you're still here for all the important moments, Phyn."

I waltzed inside. "Of course, you guys can't get rid of me."

Lewis sat in the center of it all, in his hospital bed. Bags under his eyes, his face just as pale as before. He moved his eyes to mine. "Sounds like I've missed out on a lot," he croaked, "I always get left out don't I?"

Max snorted, "I don't know, I would've loved a chance to sleep."

Gwen glared at him. "Knock it off." Oliver chuckled, his eyes bright again.

I walked closer, resting my hand on the bed rail. "You're feeling okay though?"

"Ya...I think so," Lewis said, darting his eyes to each of us, that sliver of guilt returned. "Where's Murray? Is he alright?"

Oliver's face shifted, crossing his arms. "There a reason he shouldn't be?" Does he suspect him too? I moved my eyes back to Lewis.

Lewis laughed, his voice weak, "I mean, none of us has been okay. He isn't here, where is he?" nerves creeped into his tone.

"He's missing," Gwen muttered, her face falling. "No one's seen him since Lattice."

Lewis shook his head, his chin quivering. "That doesn't make sense, that wasn't supposed to happen-" He shut his eyes, gripping the sides of his head. "They couldn't have known."

"What are you talking about?" Max scratched his head, everyone exchanged glances. He's giving himself away.

Lewis swallowed the lump in his throat, his face changed. "...I want a lawyer...get me a lawyer," he stammered. What are you doing, Lewis?

The tension was acidic in the room, eating away the earlier laughter. Gwen lifted her head, murmuring, "Lewis, you're not saying…"

"Are you really going to act surprised? I was never one of you," Lewis hissed, his face like a mad man. "Take a good look at your traitor, cause there won't be much left of me tomorrow."

"How could you?" Oliver roared, his face going red. "You knew what this plan meant, what was at stake."

Lewis didn't look up. "I don't care about that, it doesn't matter."

Gwen stood up, her chair sliding back. "We trusted you, Lewis...I trusted you." She clenched her fists. "Murray gave you a chance when you were nothing, and you do this."

Max's eyes glossy, distant. Lewis scowled, still refusing to look any of us in the eye. "Go get the police then," he roared. "I'm sick of seeing your shocked faces."

I gripped the edge of the railing, staying still. This doesn't make sense...why would he incriminate himself...it's almost like he wants to be arrested.

Oliver turned on his heel, storming out. "You want police, I'll get you police," he shouted.

Gwen gathered herself slowly, walking after him. "Hope you're happy with yourself, Lewis." Max drifted out with her, a sad silence. I stood alone in the room with Lewis, my glare burning him.

"What are you doing?" I growled.

Lewis's eyes switched, the malice leaving his face. "We don't have much time, I need you to remember Iris. It's important."

"What are you talking about?"

Lewis kept a steady gaze. "We have three minutes before the cops come. Do you want to be here when they arrive?" I turned to the doorway, biting my lip. He's right. Lewis sighed, straining to hold his gaze steady. "It's going to be alright, but don't forget Iris, it's a good place to start."

I shook my head, pacing back. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because as you said, we're friends...I trust you, even if you can't trust me." I blinked at him. Did he hear what I said before?

Footsteps drummed, I turned to the door and back. "You're being so vague."

He waved me away. "Get going, Wanderer."