The world is on a tipping point, and maybe we've already fallen…" my voice faltered as I watched the flashing red light. There's no reason for them to listen to me. My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. They don't know me. I blinked into the lens. That doesn't matter. I cleared my throat. Tell the truth.

I steadied my voice, "I have lived in Avarice for five years. In those years, I have watched people get pushed to the sidelines, seen them starve. I have watched a country be broken under the weight of this war, with no relief ahead. The war between Avarice and Vitriol, you're supposed to be my enemy."

I gave a chuckle, "Strange, when you, the citizens of Vitriol, have never raised a hand against me." My gaze drifted away, I shook my head. "I was recruited to help with the war effort...to save my neighbours and my friends, that's what I thought I was doing. But these enemy lines, they're not drawn accurately. The people of Vitriol are not my enemy, and neither are the people of Avarice."

I took a deep breath. "The governments are great at talking peace. They bring their talking points about peace, while breathing out war," I hissed. "Our complaints are ignored, they crush out dissenting voices, and we are left trampled under their ambitions. They let our soldiers bleed out in the name of the greater good…"

I raised my chin. "I won't stand for it...I won't stand for the silence. I want to hear your voices," I murmured, fire building in my gut. "What actually matters to you? What do you want? They won't ask, so I will. What kind of world do you want to live in?"

Huge lights flickered on, shining in my eyes. My voice faltered, "These people at the top, they don't care what you say. They have their own plans, the conversation over. But I think I want to hear more about what it is they want. You deserve to know what their plans are." I smiled. "So let's start a new conversation, starting with what we know. If we've been successful, many of you should have access to audio, blueprints, and files we've gathered from our government in Avarice. It may not be much...but this is just the beginning."

A crash came from behind the wall, I jumped. Shoot. I turned back to the camera. I cleared my throat. "Today marks an end to their hiding, no longer will they leave you in the dark," I said, straightening my shoulders. "And to those villains, who debase and slaughter your own people, I'm coming for you."

Another thud hit the wall, I pursed my lips. "Stand with me, or don't." My gaze wavered. "I will continue pressing forward, because it isn't failure that brings shame." I swallowed a lump in my throat, taking a shaky breath.

This is what it means to fail with my head held high. I gave a weak smile. "I'm going to start a battle cry, feel free to steal my song."

The door burst open, Jo standing, blood dripping down her forehead. "You're done, I'm stopping this now," she growled.

No, I'm just getting started. I looked back at the camera. "Avarice, I'll be back for you shortly."

Jo's eyes went wide. "Are you broadcasting this?"

I ran forward, scrambling to the computer. Reaching for the drive, I yanked it out of the computer. Jo chased after me. Everything slowed as I spotted the knife in her hand, Raine's knife.

Sucking in a breath, I vanished, stumbling back to the floor of the throne room. Alaric staggered around Raine. Blood across her hoodie, a red cut on her arm. She grimaced, falling to her knee. "Did you do it?" she winced.

I nodded, taking careful steps forward. Alaric flicked his head up, swooping an arm around her neck.

"Let her go!" I roared.

He kept his chokehold grip on Raine. "Come closer and I'll kill her." An ugly sound as he squeezed on her neck. Raine's face turned bluish.

"You're already killing her!" My feet faltered.

He loosened his arm, Raine taking desperate breaths. "I'm...fine," she rasped. "I'll be...fine."

Jo swung back open the door, wiping the streak of blood from her chin. "So you never drugged her, you liar."

Raine snickered, her laugh cut off by the fist around her neck.

"I won't let you do this," I hissed.

Jo stepped around me, looking at Alaric. "She made a broadcast. I'm guessing it has something to do with the virus they put on our computers."

Alaric clenched his jaw. "You think attacking me is going to do anything but help them?"

"You don't have to stand in my way." I raised my chin. "I'll fight for both Avarice and Vitriol if I have to."

Jo laughed, "So the naive hero and the grimey mercenary are working together to save the world. How did you manage that one?"

I kept my gaze on Alaric. "Let her go. As soon as you drop your guard-"

"I think I can hold on long enough for Helios to come with that serum," he said. "After that you're not going anywhere."

"We'll see, won't we." I crossed my arms. "Twenty minutes to Idyllic is long enough." I gritted my teeth, guards filing in through the door. He's narrowing down my options.

"Who says he's in Idyllic?" Alaric smirked. The guards circled around us, guns drawn. I bit my cheek, steadying my breathing. If he's here…

Jo sighed, "This is over."

"You will help me. You have no choice," Alaric growled.

I tightened my fists. "You can't make me do anything."

"You'd be surprised how easily the mind can be bent. Even the strongest soldiers break."

"Very dramatic, but we're not going to get that far." I shrugged my shoulders. "There's no way your men will shoot, not with you in the way." I took a step forward.

He spat through his teeth, "I can snap her neck."

Raine's gaze fixed on me, a cold resolve, go for it.

I inched closer. "You don't have to be on the wrong side of history, let her go..."

He stiffened. "One day your luck's going to run out and they'll get you. You're not invincible." His eyes lit up, Raine gagging again.

"I know that, I know." I raised my palms, his gaze staying stiff. Raine glared at me, desperation leaking through.

I don't have a choice.

I lunged after Alaric, skidding towards them. He grabbed her head, as I caught his ankle.

He vanished beneath my grip. Raine gasping for air, she collapsed to the ground.

Alaric reappeared, crashing down onto his throne. The wood cracked and splintered, he gave a shout.

Guards left the line, running to their leader's aid. Raine rubbed her neck, taking forced breaths. The remaining guards raised their guns. Here we go. I spun around, scrambling after Raine. I latched onto her wrist.

I caught the rhythm as the first bullets fired, both of us crashing down on the silver table in the security room.

I swung off of the edge, finding my balance. Raine shuffled through a bin, pulling out her guns. "Yes," she snickered, handing one to me. "We still have to find Murray, right?"

I nodded my head, adrenaline flooding my veins. My hands shook. Raine frowned, stepping off the table.

She scratched her chin. "Don't you get squeamish now, I was the one getting my windpipe crushed by that thug."

"I know...but-" What if I kill someone? I kept my mouth shut, eyes on the door. "Doesn't matter, I'm fine." Why am I worrying about this now?

Raine nodded, cocking her gun. "Sure, your aim's going to be a lot better if you're not a leaf in the wind."

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"Ya, I know that." I steadied my grip, closing my eyes for a moment. Breathe.

Raine slapped a hand on my shoulder. "But look at me, I have no depth perception, and I do just fine."

I cracked my eyes open. "Raine...you've shot at me."

Raine turned her head. "Ya well, I have a lot of expertise, informed intuition. You were mostly safe." She started walking back down the hall.

"Raine…" I called, following the black tiles, some glossy others matter. My steps clicked against the stone. I pulled the tie out of my hair, red curls falling loose.

I rolled up my sleeves, waving her back. "I'll see if I can locate him, pay attention to the outside world."

"The outside world?" Raine snickered, "That's funny."

I ignored her, blocking out everything but the rhythm. No time for witty retorts. Deep breaths, I followed the song. A brief glimmer of a note, I took a step. "He's this way," I mumbled, reaching my fingers forward.

Raine linked her arm around mine. "I'll be your vision, follow his scent."

I nodded, walking with her. Focusing on the clash, it was faded, distant. Sifting through something murky, I held my breath. Raine pulled me along. Something's wrong…something's really wrong.

Sound over my shoulder, I turned my head. Footsteps drummed down the hall.

Shadows of running guards inched up the walls. Raine tightened her grip. "Can you search and run?"

"Yes," I muttered, stumbling forward. Raine bolting, she dragged me along. My eyes flickered open and shut.

Is this Murray I'm chasing, or something else? It feels like he keeps getting farther away. Is he running too?

Shouts from the guards, Raine swore. She swung me forward, my feet stumbling.

"I can move myself," I hissed.

Raine raised her gun, firing shots behind us. Shouts grew louder, more urgent. I tightened my fists. "They're going to fire back," I roared.

Raine rolled her eyes. "They'll fire anyway." She grabbed my arm back, running with a limp, her metal limb legging behind.

The score of guards at our heels. I took a breath. This isn't working. "Hold on," I growled, fixing my footing. The score of guards at our heels. I grabbed Raine's shoulder, locking onto the pulse.

I moved towards the glimmer. Falling into the torrent, fear seized my heart. A pair of scarred eyes burned into my mind, blinking, charred. She's watching...Kismet's watching me.

I gasped for air, unable to go back. I crashed down into a dim room. I was alone on the floor.

I scrambled to my feet, searching through the dark. Where did Raine go? Chairs stacked on tables, piles of stuff cluttered together. Everything was covered with a thick layer of dust. Shivers on my skin, the weight stayed. She isn't here.

I stepped around the tangled chairs, dust following my fingers towards a light. Shining through the frosted glass, the glow drew me near.

I peered through, a blurry set of bookcases towered over a spiralling staircase. A figure walking down the steps. Shivers biting me worse, I pushed back from the door. Do I go out there? Or do I run?

The feeling pulled at me, that burning gaze. My fight instinct kicked me. I slipped the handle, opening the door.

It creaked loudly. Something like a song whispered through, petering off as Kismet stopped mid step.

Her smile could break glass. A dark mauve pantsuit, her eyes unbound. A scar sliced across each eye, her gaze was hollow.

"Phynley…" She took another step, her perfect teeth shining back. "I liked your little speech, I'm feeling inspired."

I stayed petrified in the doorway, refusing to move.

She sighed, waving me in. "Come out now," she said. "I won't bite."

The door still slowly swinging, I whispered, "How did you-"

"How did I bring you here?" Kismet chuckled. "Well, the world may have forgotten magic, but I have not." She slipped off the stairs, spinning around the bannister. "It's weaker with such pathetic life blood, but there are still some tricks left."

"I don't understand…" I muttered, dragging my feet out. "What do you want?"

She tilted her head, biting her lip. "The same thing I've always wanted."

"I told you I wouldn't help you."

She sighed, "For someone who talks up heroics, you seem very comfortable damning the world."

I dropped my jaw. "That's not what I'm doing. Trust me, it won't work."

"Why? Because you're from the past?" She raised her eyebrows. She knows? She nodded her head. "Of course I know."

I froze, my breathing shaky. "If you knew…"

Kismet circled around me, shaking her finger. "You were so quick to assume that means you can do nothing."

"I'm not assuming...it just doesn't make sense." Shivers ran down my arms, my stomach turned. "Your eyes?" They're like Valerie's.

She pointed to her scarred irises. "It's an old technique. The sacrifice of physical sight for something greater." A smile slipped across her lips. "And it's a perfect metaphor for this moment. You can sacrifice this fight over wars and experiments, for something more. We can fight death itself." Her dead gaze, burnerd in my brain.

I stepped back. "Kendall wont be happy about that "

She sighed, rolling her neck. "Kendall is a pain, a tie that I will soon need to cut. I am able to make room for this allegiance to knot."

She's straight up insane. "I can't trust you," I hissed through my teeth.

"Because I use the methods of your old enemies?" she scoffed. "There is nothing wrong with manipulating lifepower, not inherently."

I lowered my head. "But using blood...there must at least be something wrong with that?"

She snickered, "What does right and wrong even mean? Does it disagree with you?"

I bit the inside of my cheek. "Then why talk about things like saving the world, or fighting death? Don't you think those things are good?"

The corner of her mouth twitched, something funny in her expression. "Life is valuable...I think that's enough, isn't it?" she chuckled. "My point is about the little rules."

I tightened my fists. "That's not consistent-" I froze, blinking at Kismet. A speck of blood on her forearm, one on her shoe. Wait… My heart stopped. She killed something. I stepped back. Pillars of books stacked above me, like a weight burying me. "Kismet...what kind of lifeblood did you use for your spell?"

She sighed, staring with a blank face. "I used animal blood, Phyn. Do you really think I'm such a monster?"

"I don't know," I said, continuing to back up. Another splotch of blood on her neck. I gagged.

Kismet chased after me, catching my wrist. "We're not done yet."

I pulled my hand back, scurrying towards the steps. "I am," I hissed, climbing over stairs. I can't stay here. I shut my eyes, locking on the pulse. I disappeared, her scarred eyes sliced back.

I reappeared above the stairs, flailing as I crashed down. I rolled down the flight, stairs crashing into my ribs. I crumpled in a heap on the floor.

"I have a captive audience," Kismet laughed, that sick smirk standing over me.

I scampered back, trying to get to my feet. "You can't do this! This won't make me trust you!" Blindly moving back, my breath strained.

She shook her head, strutting after me. "You're staying in Idyllic, and we are going to reshape the world my way."

"Your way? You sound like Kendall-"

"Not at all. His dreams are political, but there are higher things. To transcend the very power of existence...that is real power."

I hit the edge of a table. "I don't want any part of this...I don't want power."

Kismet snorted, "Of course you do, everyone does. Don't act so high and mighty l. You sure fight to keep your own power."

"That's not the same thing, I'm not taking someone else's." I cleared my throat. "I just want to keep what I have, use that power to protect others-"

My eyes flew to a pile of folded up clothes. Tan, a coarse fabric, they sat tucked in the corner.

Kismet stepped in l my view. "The more power we get, the more people you can protect." She walked closer, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I pulled back, stepping around her. They look like Reed's clothes...It's not just clothes, there's a notebook, hand carved niknaks. Are these…

Kismet took a deep breath. "Stay focused, Phynley. I need you to stay focused!"

"Are these Reed's things?" I lifted my head. "Why are they piled up on the floor?" I reached over. Kismet lunged after me.

I lifted the shirt up, the cloth unfolding. Red... I gagged at the scrubbed out, faded stains across the front. This is blood. My stomach twisted, the shirt falling from my fingers.

Kismet pulled the cloth off the floor, bunching up. "It was just a little accident, worse than it looks, he's fine."

Tears stinging my eyes, I held my breath. "Don't lie." He was afraid.

Kismet raised her hands, approaching slowly. "I'm not lying, Phynley. I can-"

"Then get him," I hissed. "Bring him here."

Kismet froze, eyes searching mine. She lowered her hands. Oh no... A cold ache burned in my chest. A tear escaped, tracing my cheek.

She cooed, "He's busy. I'll bring him later-"

"What kind of blood did you use?" I growled. She shut her mouth, stopping. "Answer me! You said blood magic is weaker here...animal blood isn't strong enough, is it?"

Kismet dropped her grin. "If you had just stayed in Idyllic, this would have never happened."

Her face, so callous, remorseless. My mind spun, the air leaving my lungs. "Y-you actually..." I whimpered.

She clenched her jaw. "It's Reed's duty to serve the Pacesetter in whatever capacity necessary."

My eyes grew wide. "You killed him?" I cried out, "For what? A spell? That's sick-"

"You made it necessary." She snatched my wrist, digging in her nails in my arm. "Don't make spilling more blood necessary."

I pulled back, shoving her away. "The only blood spilt is going to be yours." She stumbled back. I straightened my shoulders. "I won't let you hurt another soul."

She lifted her head, a smirk slipping out. "So, you're still feeling feisty…" She stepped around me, strutting away. Stopping beside the table, she lifted up a crowbar. "If you want a fight, I'll give you one. I just hope you can back up those big words, Wanderer."