Kael stood at the edge of the alley, staring at what was left.

  Half of it was burned. Charred brick. Melted metal. Ash where blood should be.

  'Who did this?'

  'Was it Cole?'

  'Or the gang?'

  He shook his head. That didn't make sense. Why would they burn the alley? Draw attention to themselves?

  'Damn it. I can't figure it out.'

  He turned away and kept walking.

  His ribs ached with every step. The bite mark on his forearm throbbed beneath the bandages. He'd survived worse. Probably. He just couldn't remember when.

  Eventually, he got close. The place he called home for years.

  He stopped behind a collapsed wall and looked.

  His hideout. The gap between the tenements. The bracket he used to open it.

  A small smile found its way to his face.

  Then he saw them. Two men in worn leather, standing near the entrance. Not hiding. Just... waiting.

  The smile faded.

  'Damn it. These people are too serious. Why hold a grudge like this?'

  He thought about what he did. Stealing their credits. Joking about their teeth. Stabbing their leader.

  'Well. I guess I crossed the line too.'

  He took one last look at the gap.

  'Bye, my beautiful house. Your owner is now a chased homeless.'

  He took his leave.

  He walked toward the left side of the sector. Toward the Sector 3 gate.

  On the way, he passed the market. The one-eyed vendor was there, selling his rotten protein bars. The same kid from before was playing with another kid nearby. Normal. Everyday. For some reason, it felt good to see.

  An hour later, he reached the gate.

  The area was pitiful, but the gate loomed over it—about ten meters long and four meters wide. It led through a semicircular headland filled with wooden carts. Merchants, poor residents, people trying to survive. Security was lax. Practically nonexistent. The government had appointed guards from the sectors, but everyone knew they took bribes. Passage should have been easy with the money hidden in his pocket.

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  He watched for a few minutes.

  Then his eyes widened.

  Gang members. Standing near the entrance. Not hiding. Just... there.

  'What the hell are they doing here? Business? Or are they here for me?'

  'Relax. There's one way to find out.'

  He left before they could see him.

  He walked for two hours. Toward the place where the Sector 5 gate was located.

  When he got there, he already knew what he'd find.

  Gang members. Waiting.

  'Fuck. I'm done.'

  Cole was right. They weren't normal thugs. And they held grudges.

  He cursed the day he decided to steal from them.

  'I've truly outdone myself this time.'

  It wasn't the time for jokes. But what else could he do?

  He spent the next few hours exploring. Gathering information.

  The only gate left was the exit gate. The one that led outside the walls. It was common knowledge that monsters still roamed out there. Most had been cleared, but some remained hidden. Unlike the sector gates, this one was heavily guarded by the government army.

  He really didn't like that option.

  'What an enviable situation.'

  By the time he finished, day had turned to night. The cheap lanterns along the streets flickered to life, casting weak orange light over the grime.

  Kael found himself standing in front of a familiar door.

  'I would rather die than do this. But there's no other option.'

  He looked at the door. The same door he'd walked out of this morning, saying he didn't need anything from anyone.

  'I want to cry. Fuck.'

  He knocked.

  A familiar voice from inside. "Who's there?"

  His voice came out small. Trembling. Embarrassed.

  "It's me."

  Silence. Then: "Huh?"

  "Damn it. I said it's me."

  The door opened.

  Cole stood there. Looked at Kael. And burst out laughing.

  Kael's face burned.

  "What's so funny?"

  Cole couldn't stop. He was leaning against the doorframe, wiping his eyes.

  "If you expected me to come back, why are you laughing?"

  Cole caught his breath. Grinned.

  "I expected it. But seeing it in person is way funnier than imagination."

  He kept laughing. Not mean. Just... Cole.

  "So. How was your little trip?"

  Kael hesitated. Then said: "Really bad."

  He looked at the floor.

  "Can I enter?"

  Cole laughed again. "Of course."

  Kael stepped inside. "Damn it. Stop laughing. It's not funny."

  Cole made dinner.

  Nothing fancy. But better than what Kael was used to.

  Kael looked at the protein bar in his hand. It wasn't expired.

  "These bars you have. They're not out of date."

  Cole shrugged. "You could say it has something to do with my job."

  'Job.'

  Kael filed that away.

  They ate in silence for a while. Then Kael spoke.

  "Why did you save me?"

  Cole looked up. Smiled.

  "I already answered that."

  Kael pushed. "Nothing's free. That's the rule here. You not wanting anything makes me more suspicious."

  Cole's smile faded.

  His eyes changed. Sadness? Anger? Guilt? All of them? For the first time, Kael saw something underneath the talkative surface.

  Cole spoke quietly.

  "I remembered my guilt when I saw you there."

  He didn't explain more. Didn't offer details.

  "Don't push. It's my secret."

  Kael let it go.

  He thought it through. If Cole wanted him dead, he would've left him to the gang. And Kael had nothing to offer—hunted, broke, no connections. Cole couldn't use him for anything.

  They kept eating. Quiet.

  Then Cole looked up. His face was serious. The most serious Kael had seen all night.

  His tone shifted.

  "Have you ever thought about becoming an Awakened?"

  Kael stared at him.