The gun rattled in my hand, a nervous itch at the idea I might have to use it. I've fired a gun before. Drake took me out to a shooting range, insisting I hadn't lived until I fired one. I was a better shot than him. I sighed, steadying my trembling hands. I didn't have to actually shoot anyone, I just shouldn't be the only person in the room without a gun.

I pressed my thumb to my wrist, breathing slow. Last time I tried to find someone it didn't work so well. Still, I knew Drake longer than anyone else here. He should be the easiest to find. From getting schooled at billiards, to buying my first colour television, to the day I discovered he knew nothing about cars...I couldn't have survived this long without him. This was not an option for me.

I followed the source of the memories, letting my powers take me to Drake. The sky melted away, vanishing in a blip. Weak light as I oriented myself in the dark interrogation room. I took a step to stop myself from stumbling. A huge mirror reflected by my own blinking eyes. Drake sat behind me. Turning in his chair, his jaw dropped. "Phyn...?"

It worked, it actually worked.

He fell out of his seat, stumbling to the floor. "Wait...you…how?" He gaped at me, struggling with his words. "What the hell?"

I ran over, helping him to his feet. ""I don't have time to explain, but we need to get out of here," I said, my voice getting drowned out by shouts, stomping feet.

Drake's eyes glazy, he blinked up at me. "What even are you?" He lowered his voice, his eyes darting away. "You're not an alien, are you?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Of course I'm not an alien. We've got to go-"

The door swung open, half a dozen police officers barrelled in. The wall of uniforms shouted, "Freeze! Get down on the ground." Wary looks, they reached for their guns.

I yanked Drake back, gritting my teeth. "I don't think so," I growled, keeping my gun low. I'm not getting into a gunfight.

The middle officer tilted his head. "Best if you surrender, we have more than just him."

"Ya, I wonder for how long?" I smiled, reaching for the rhythm. Their faces vanished, the dim room replaced with a concrete alleyway. Warehouses and windowless walls

Drake stumbled back, eyes wide. He opened his mouth to scream. I clamped a hand over his mouth. "Shush, people will hear you," I hissed.

His eyes still bugged out, he nodded. I lifted my hand and he stuttered, "...You can teleport...we just teleported." He turned his head around, and back to me. "That's how you move shipments-"

"It makes smuggling easy."

"This is unbelievable." He waved his hands, still quaking. "All this time-" He stopped pacing, blinking at me. "So what are you, if you're not an alien-"

"A human being," I huffed, "Almost the same as you...I just can teleport."

"Oh, that's all?" He scrunched up his face. "How does that make sense?"

"It makes more sense than your alien theory," I growled. He raised an eyebrow. I shook my head. "I don't have time to argue with you. Do you have a safe place you can go to?"

"Define safe," he chuckled. "After my very public arrest. People might be wary of offering help."

I pulled out the key andthe address from my pocket. Hesitating, I held it out to him. "You can always stay here for the time being, I don't think I'll be getting much use out of it anyway."

He took the key. "Where are you going?"

"They have some of my other friends, I'm not letting them get caught in the crosshairs." I took a step back, twisting to face the street.

Drake waved his hand. "Wait, I heard them say something about underground? Maybe under the parcade? They were whispering, I can't be sure."

I smiled back. "Thanks, Drake." I took another step forward, his hand still outstretched.

He asked, "Are you really a traitor?"

I backtracked my steps. "What do you think?"

"No...but they think you are."

"Sure, but that's what they want to think...I don't have time to explain." I waved goodbye, retracing my steps down the alleyway. "Stay safe, Drake," I said, vanishing into thin air.

No time for chitchat, not when every second was giving my enemies time to prepare.

I reappeared in the echo of a parcade. Beneath the Tower, the elevator door stood ahead of me. Not long ago I rode up this elevator with Murray. How different this all turned out. I hit the elevator button, the glow under my finger.

I shook off the wave of nausea, checking over my shoulder. The parking lot empty, a chilling sign as the wind whipped through the hollow space. No turning back. The door rolled open and I walked inside.

A floor already chosen, the number bright on the panel, the next lowest floor. I swallowed my nerves, shuffling into the corner. They know I'm here.

The elevator descended, plummeting down to hell for all I knew. I wouldn't be surprised. The gun slippery in my grip, I watched the numbers fall. Holding the tension in my shoulders, ready for whatever waited below. Something scuffed along the floor, I frowned at the sound, blinking at the empty car. My heart raced like a war drum.

The elevator fell at the same metronome, the movement steady, no sign of anything breaking. I snorted to myself. Too paranoid for my own good. I loosened my shoulders, focusing on the door. The real danger.

I readied the gun as the elevator slowed. The first sliver of a hallway broke into my sight, I raised my gun. Nothing waited behind the door, an empty plaster grey hall. I shook off the nerves, falling the path forward. Trap or not, I'm coming.

Something brushed my arm, moving past me. I froze, gawking at the empty hall. Now, I swear I felt something- My eyes went wide. Wait….

A slight glimmer drifted down the hallway, a flicker of the corner of a jacket. Could it really be…?

"Murray?" I whispered. I picked up my feet, chasing after the disappearing grey coat. "Is it really you?" my voice rebounded, echoing in the lonely hall. Did I imagine it? I slowed my steps, stopping in the middle of the path. Where in the world has he been? What is he doing here now?

I dragged my feet forward, mumbling, "You're a real jerk, you know." The dusty grey walls left little too distract from the growing fear. If he's ignoring me, there's a reason. Black metal doors shut all along the hall, the pathway meant to lead me to some end. A camera light blinked, tucked in the corner of the ceiling. I glared back at it, marching forward.

Turning the bend, a single door was left open. Weak light poured out, a silver of an opening. The gentle hum of voices carried, their voices muffled. I tiptoed towards it, dreading every step. Because this always plays out the same way...they threaten others if I don't do what they want. A bad taste in my mouth from every ultimatum. I thought I left that in the past.

Soft steps, I peered in through the doorway. One...two...three chairs together in a row. Bundles of wires twisted around them and out through a little door in the wall. In each chair sat Oliver, Gwen and Max. Bound and gagged, their eyes focused somewhere else.

I held my breath, fighting the instinct to run in and tear off their binds. Someone paced around the room, a silver remote in hand….Kendall.

I strained my neck, someone else, a fourth person chained to the roof. His face battered and bloody, his right eye swollen shut. I blinked as his face clicked in my mind. That's Lewis.

I stumbled back, my foot hitting the door. It creaked loudly. My location shouted out like a siren. I shrunk back, panic consuming my thoughts.

"Please, Phynley, come inside," Victor's voice rose over my terror. "Don't just hide behind the door, we've all been very patient waiting for you."

I hid the gun inside my jacket pocket, before I creaked open the door the rest of the way. Victor's sick grin was the first thing to greet me. He beamed, nearly floating as he walked. He waved the remote like a fan, too giddy with his plan.

I focused my attention on the others. I need to know they're okay. Gwen kept her eyes low. Max dazed, he gripped the handles with white knuckles. Oliver was the first to meet my eyes. Pure anger in his gaze, almost as if to say, make sure you bury him.

I froze in the center of the room, turning to keep an eye on Kendall. I raised my voice, "I'm glad you seem well prepared, I hate being underestimated."

Victor drummed his fingers on the panel. "What a good sport, I do like it when my hard work is appreciated."

"Guessing the chairs are electrified and controlled by the remote in your hand?" I slipped my hands in my pockets, the gun rested beneath my fingers.

"You've guessed correctly." He traced his fingers over the buttons."You could say I might start mashing the controls if you don't cooperate."

I raised an eyebrow. "And that'll do what? Zap 'em or kill 'em, you need to be more specific?"

Victor laughed, "I'll leave it up to your imagination." He straightened his shoulders. "It does make this more fun, doesn't it? You get to guess how much damage will be done."

I took a breath, filtering shaky nerves. This is sick. "And what's with Lewis?" I motioned to the bloody pulp of a man.

"I wanted to keep an eye on him. I don't trust traitors, no matter the side." Victor shrugged his shoulders, pacing back around the chairs. "And I figured he wouldn't drum up much sympathy, given the circumstances. So I let him stand."

I rolled my eyes. "How about we get on with this?"

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Wonderful." Victor motioned to a table to my right, a metal tray with a syringe resting on it. "Then be a good girl and take your medicine." I didn't budge, glaring back at him.

Victor tilted his head. "Unless you really do want to gamble your friend's lives?"

"You're smart to use electricity, I don't know much about it," I huffed, walking over to the table. "Do I just inject this in my arm?"

He nodded. "The vein under your elbow is probably the simplest."

"Excuse me while I hesitate, I don't really like needles."

"Take too long and my finger might slip." Victor looked up with unsympathetic eyes. The wall behind him warped, movement passing by towards the door the wires were coming from. So Murray's here for his team too.

I turned my eyes back to the needle. He just needs a distraction. "Sure, sure," I muttered, letting the syringe slip from my fingers. Victor lifted his head, as I reached for the gun inside my pocket. One, two, three bullets splintered into the wall. Victor slipped, ducking down.The remote skidded from his hands, and he strained to grab it. The door behind him swung shut.

I kept my gun raised as he picked up the remote. I held my breath as his finger pressed the button. A terrible hum started, chairs lit up. Gwen let out a hiss, her voice turning into scream. She started shaking as I fired a bullet at the ground. "Stop it!" I shrieked, "Stop it now!"

Victor cackled at my shouts, my head feeling dizzy. What have I done?

Suddenly the light flashed off. The hum faded along with Victor's laugh. He turned his head back, eyes wide.

"Technical difficulties?" I hissed, motioning with my gun "Start untying them."

Victor sighed, lifting the edge of his coat. A gun in a holster, he drew the weapon, shaking his head at me. "You're not the only one with fire power, Phynley. You should've shot me while you could."

Staring down the barrel, I stayed petrified. "Guess we're at an impasse then."

Victor snickered, "No, not really. You have what, one or two bullets left? I have enough to kill you all." His grin slipped back. "And do you really think you have the nerve to shoot me?"

I scowled at him. "What did I say about underestimating me?"

"It's not an underestimation. Like I said at the party, you're a bleeding heart." He moved his aim to my leg. I caught the rhythm before the bullet fired.

Appearing behind him, I slammed my foot in his back. Falling forward, the gun scattered from his hands.

"You were saying." I dusted off my hands.

He rolled over, lifting his head. "Go, run away...we'll eventually find you. We've done it before, we'll do it again." He sat up, fixing his hair. "You're only buying time."

"If you think living on the run scares me, you don't know me at all." I kept the gun on him, stepping backwards to the others. I pulled on Gwen's binds, she ripped the bands off. Throwing the gag, her hands still trembled. "Keep on him, I'll get the other's free," she whispered.

Kendall's crocodile snarl widened. "But you don't have your Dreamer this time round, now do you?"

What did he say? My heart stopped, seconds slow as my mind registered. "What did you say?" I shook the gun at him. "What did you just say?"

"Phyn," Oliver's voice behind me, I didn't care what he had to say. Kendall has no right to mention Luca.

Victor's teeth, a blinding white, they laughed at me. "Do you want to know how he died?"

Nausea crawled up my throat. I shook my head. Yes...no...never. "Don't you dare bring this up."

"One can only hide from time-bending wizard's for so long...soon enough throats are being slit, hideaways burned-"

"Shut up!" I hissed. Lightheaded, the room spun.

"Phyn, let's go." Oliver put a hand on my shoulder.

Lewis spun his head to catch my eyes, still strung up. I glared at the others. "Get Lewis down, and we will."

Max tossed a remaining rope from his arm. "We're not helping traitors, Phyn."

Gwen waved for me. "Let's just go," she pleaded.

I shook my head. "I'm not budging till you let him down," I growled, my eyes diverted between them and Kendall. "Do you want us to all die? I'm sure he's planning something. "

Victor folded his hands, sitting patiently on the floor. Why doesn't he use his ability? This is making me nervous.

Max sighed, dragging his feet back. "Is there a key?"

"Do you have a key?" I growled at Victor. He shut his mouth, avoiding my eyes. I raised my fist. "Do you have a key?"

Shuffling through his pockets, he pulled the silver key from his pocket. Mumbling something as he lifted it to me.

"Something you wanted to say?" I met his glare, taking the key from his hand. He shook his head dully. I smirked at him, throwing the key to Max. "If you want to insult me, you better do it now."

They lowered Lewis, taking the cuffs off his wrist. I inched towards them. We need to get out of here...

The door swung open, rattling as it hit the wall. Victor sighed in relief, "Took you long enough."

Jude walked through the door, his eyes glazed over. He drifted in. "I was hoping it wasn't true..."

I clenched my jaw, glaring back at Victor. "If you think this is going to stop me." I inched slowly to the others. Jude shuffled his feet, picking up Victor's gun.

"Jude," I stepped back. "What do you think you're doing?"

"You're out of control, Phyn." He raised the barrel, cold eyes.

"Out of control?" I laughed, nervously. "Victor's the one out of control, kidnapping people, putting out a warrant for my arrest."

Victor cleared his throat, dusting himself off as he got to his feet. "All my actions have been necessary to protect Avarice."

I shook my head. "You know that's not true."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Are you really going to deny breaking the terms of your contract? That was you in archive B, yes?"

I shut my mouth, glaring back. That's not fair.

Victor raised his hands. "Not only that, but putting a listening device in the Commander's office? I don't even have to mention copying vital paperwork, if that doesn't scream espionage." Kendall sighed, "I'm sorry to say, she's betrayed you, sir."

I looked between them. What in the world? "Okay, so the archive was me, but I don't know anything about listening devices or paperwork." I pointed at Kendall. "Why does he want me arrested, anyway? He's trying to hide the fact that he's the real villain."

Jude shook his head. "The arrest warrant was my idea. You need to snap out of this, you need to see reality."

I snarled back, "You're letting him manipulate you. He wants you to distrust me."

"And isn't that what you're trying to do? All you've done is tell me how nefarious he is," Jude scoffed. Victor placed a hand on his shoulder, like a shadow behind him.

"Because he is! You know he is." I turned back to the others. "The only thing I've done is disagree with you."

Jude snorted, "You've done more than that."

"Such a wild creature, isn't she?" Kendall hummed, tightening his grip on his shoulder. "Majestic, but dangerous if left unchecked. She can still be tamed."

"'I'm not an animal," I gagged, "This is stupid."

Victor smirked at my protest, continuing to talk to Jude. "You can still save her from herself, but not if you let her leave."

"Just watch me," I growled, turning. "I'm not listening to this crap."

Victor tsked at me. "Don't be drastic. You wouldn't want him to shoot one of your friends, now would you?"

I turned back to their wide eyes. Darted across the room, Max helping Lewis, Gwen and Oliver stood behind me. I need to get them all together. I cleared my throat, moving slow. "Are you going to kill me, Jude?" I met his eyes, walking backwards. "That's the only way you're keeping me here."

"If you cooperate, I will show mercy," Jude murmured, his hands shaking. "You just need to fall in line."

"There is no world where I fall in line." I raised my chin. "And no world where we remain on the same side." I spun back, breaking into a sprint. My team followed suit, linking arms.

"Stop where you are!" Jude shouted, raising his gun. "I mean it, stop!" I scurried on regardless, reaching for everyone's arms. Gathering a breath, I vanished through the rhythm. I pulled the others with me, a bullet exploding in my ears. The sound rattled my composure. I wasn't fast enough. Everything slowed, slipping out of motion. Choppy waters, we spun back, breaking through space.

We stumbled out into the parcade. I searched my torso for a bullet wound, red splattered on my shirt. Nothing hurt. I looked up to Oliver, Gwen, Lewis. They sat up, fine, but….Max. Blood gushing out of his shoulder, he blinked the blood on his fingertips before he collapsed to the floor.

I yelped, crawling over to him. "No, no, no...Max- You can't- no..." My vision blurred, I tightened my fists. This is my fault.

Someone threw me aside. I rolled over the concrete, lifting my neck. Oliver at his side, putting pressure on the wound. The world spun violently, I blinked. Gwen yanked me up to my feet. "Keep your head, Phyn," she huffed, her grip shaky.

Lewis kept his head low, that bruised eye making him look more miserable. "You should move us somewhere safe," he mumbled, the sound cloudy.

Oliver looked up, eyes tense. "We need to get out of this parking lot."

I nodded, kneeling beside Max, everyone huddled in. Somewhere safe. My mind raced as I grabbed onto Oliver and Max. My frantic thoughts set the course.

The parking lot gone, we crashed onto the dining room floor of the shabby little apartment. Is this it? I blinked at the trashy kitchen; cupboard doors missing, the walls yellowed with age, garbage scattered over the floor.

Drake in the corner of the room, his shoulders tense, holding his mug with a deathgrip. "Stop doing that," he yelped. "It's freaky." I ignored him, tossing everything off the dining room table. Oliver and Gwen lifted Max onto the table, moving back to put pressure on the wound.

I pointed at Drake, stepping back. "Boil some water, and do what the blond man tells you." Drake frowned, giving a brief nod. I looked over at Oliver. "What do you need?"

"Tweezers, succer, a needle, bandages, any pain meds you can get your hands on," he said fast, precise. "You getting me some?"

"I'll be back in sixty seconds," I said.

Vanishing before anyone could blink, I shifted out of the space. I stumbled into the tiny clinic. The same room Oliver brought me to take my bloodwork.

I shuffled through drawers, grabbing as much stuff as I could find. All stuffed into a bursting first aid kit. I swung the bag over my shoulder, stopping at the sound of footsteps. I backed up, reaching for the rhythm. A shadow crawling up the wall. Raine peered inside, her face going blank "Phyn?" Her voice warped away as I vanished. What's she doing there?

The shabby kitchen morphing back around me, I stumbled, losing my balance. The bag is yanked out of my hands before I hit the floor. Oliver rummaged through it. Gwen pressed down on the bullet hole. Fast, busy work, Lewis lost in the far corner, his head buried in his knees.

I laid back on the floor, staring up at the smoke stained ceiling. I can't get overwhelmed. Deep breaths didn't shake the panic. But it's hard...because it never gets easier, no matter how many people I watch get hurt because of me. I still have to live with the guilt, face that little voice that says, it should've been me.

I sat up, the blood rushing to my head. Across the room Lewis hung his head with the same sorry expression as me. Huh...

Drake crunched potato chips, leaning against the counter. He wiped the crumbs from his beard. "Want some?" he chewed, holding out the bag. He was almost oblivious to the chaos around him. I gave a dull nod, grabbing the bag from his hand. He pointed at me. "Just don't eat 'em all, they're my favourite kind," he said, walking off to the over room.

I grabbed a fist full, munching on the salty chips. Lewis looked over, darting his eyes away. I sighed, dragging the bag with me to the other side of the room. I plopped next to Lewis. He barely glanced over as I offered him a chip. He took one, giving a nod. Oliver shouted out swift instructions, Gwen growling back at him.

I leaned my head back, taking a breath, "So...Iris Skinner?"

Lewis stiffened. "You looked into it?"

I nodded, pushing the bag closer to him. "But I still don't understand why you wanted me to look into Walter's daughter?"

His face went red, clenching his fists. "Because that's where it all started for me. What happened to Iris is the reason I did what I did."

"I see," I mumbled, taking another chip. "And Murray knew about Iris too?"

His eyes went wide. "How...did...you-"

"You only turned yourself in after you found out Murray was missing. I'm guessing the two of you had some sort of plan that went south?" I snorted, "Kendall certainly wouldn't want me looking into Iris."

Lewis cleared his throat. "Murray told me to keep Kendall informed about the satellite plan. We were trying to draw him out…but everything went wrong, you weren't supposed to get kidnapped, he wasn't supposed to be gone for this long."

I shrugged my shoulders. "He's not gone, and everything's going to be alright." I stood up, giving my tired limbs a shake.

"Wait, what do you mean? Where are you going?" Lewis asked.

I turned back. "To find an invisible man." I gave a weak grin. "If we're going to end this, we need the slippery, dishonored general."