(Reverence 2, 59 / 8:17AM)

  (Luke) Wait. Elizabeth Sanchez?!

  (Sean) You guys know her?!

  (Luke) Sort of … she helped us in the counterattack on Lagefor.

  (Jack) And she’s pretty useful too!

  The trio of siblings looked toward the ginger-haired elf that stood near the window.

  Christian folded his arms while gring at Sean, his nostrils fring upward as he was just a few inches away from him. Pacifica, who was a foot behind Christian, put on a bored expression as her eyes were pushed down, folding her arms below her chest.

  As for the light brown-haired teen, he pced both of his hands on Christian’s right shoulder, shaking them back and forth with his eyes forming a gre.

  (Chris) Sean pnned this for many months!

  (Christian) I don’t care, you’re not going.

  (Chris) But—

  (Luke) I wanna hear something…

  Luke pced himself in between Chris and Christian, having both of his hands hovering over the two male’s chests. Still having that gre, Christian took a step back, pinning his eyes onto Luke.

  Not a single droplet of sweat poured out from him. Puckering up his lips, Luke swallowed a load of saliva down his throat, his front teeth barely seen as his mouth was slightly open.

  (Luke) I know you don’t want to go, but can you give us a reason why?

  (Christian) That pce is a goddamn yellowjacket nest! Just standing near the ranch would get you shot!

  (Miles) All the more reason as to why we shouldn’t go.

  (Christian) And you guys said it yourself that you’re criminals. If you guys go, then not only you but even me and my soldiers would be sent to The Dome.

  Luke rubbed his fingers along his chin, closing his eyes shut while hearing the hard breathing from Chrisitian’s nostrils.

  Like a man solely analyzing the floor, Luke slowed his breath as even a mouse was louder than his intake. His side-bang covering his right eye, many of the Dark Angels and the trio of siblings stood by and watched as Luke thought to himself.

  Opening his eyes, he slowly tilted his head upward, letting his vision take in everyone who was inside the room.

  (Luke) How about this? There are going to be three sides or factions in this vote. Who here wants to go to the ranch?

  Only two hands were raised, the two in question being none other than Sean and Chris. Checking to see that no one else has raised their hands, Luke put both of his hands onto his sides before clearing his dry throat again.

  (Luke) Alright, who here doesn’t care if they go or not?

  Luna, Pacifica, Gary, Diego, and Jack all raised their hands in unison, with Pacifica letting out a loud yawn that was painfully obvious. Luna, who heard the yawn, scrunched up her face while making a sour expression like she tasted battery acid.

  Letting out a soft chuckle, a bead of sweat rolled down his right temple, as the third question finally dawned on him.

  (Luke) Now for third, who doesn’t want to—

  Christian and Miles raised their hands before the answer was said.

  (Luke) Go to the ranch?

  Hope, Stan, and Fred raised their hands held high, rivaling the neutral group with the same amount of votes. Rubbing the back of his head, Luke let out a wry smile as he looked over toward Sean.

  Sean had his arms folded onto his chest, rolling his eyes as he slowly trailed back and forth in front of the window. Not wanting to look at the people in front of him, Sean clenched both his wisdom teeth like he was biting onto a tri-tip.

  (Luke) Ok … so I guess that’s settled then—

  (Sean) Or how about this…

  Letting his hands and arms drop, he let them hang onto his thighs as he gred at each person who raised their hand on the third option. Leaning his back against the wall, he pced his right boot on the wall to make himself look more intimidating.

  The rest of everybody raised one eyebrow, seeing the elf try to pose for them.

  (Sean) The people that don’t want to go, don’t have to. Maybe just a small strike force will do the job.

  (Luke) Alright…

  Making a loud cp, everyone jolted up from the sound as they all pced their attention on Luke, seeing him rub his hands back and forth. His palms reddened, a small hiss came out from his mouth, as well as his right eye twitching from the shock.

  (Luke) I know this idea isn’t a good one and some of you are thinking why I’m going along with this pn…

  Being near Sean’s shoulder, Luke pced himself in the back of the window as the sun rained its rays on his neck. Feeling his neck sting, he paid it no mind as everyone began to sit or stand on the bed that belonged to Sean.

  The trio of siblings sat on the front of Luke, while the Dark Angels either sat on the floor or back of the bed with their knees helping themselves up. With Stan’s group still standing in the back, Luke pushed his side bang out of the way to make room for his right eye to see.

  (Luke) But the Zirardges are up to something. If there’s any info regarding the reason why we’re criminals, then I’ll take it.

  Luke then pced his hands inside his leather jacket, pinning his eyes onto the two women who sat down on the floor looking up at him. Slouching like a turtle, he lit up a cheerful smile onto the gring tanned woman who had her hands pced on her knees.

  (Luke) I’m going to need only a few people. The two most important people that I need are you two.

  (Luna) I guess I could go. After all, you can’t even bench press twice your weight.

  (Luke’s thoughts) But I could bench press my weight fine though…

  Standing up, Luna puffed out her chest, followed by her muscur yet slim arms gleaming muscles under the morning light.

  Hope continued to sit down on the floor, her lips puckered up as she fiddled with her fingers up and down. Biting his upper lip, Luke looked away while pinning his eyes onto an antique toy that she had in her pocket.

  A blue bird with a long beak, a mythical bird that resembled a halcyon.

  Keeping his eyes shyly on the toy, he used it as guidance for him to carry onward his held-back vocals.

  (Luke) I’m sorry, but you’re going to be needed Hope…

  (Hope) … o-ok.

  Shyly getting up to her feet, she rubbed her hands softly as she pinned her eyes on the wooden floor.

  His stomach feeling as if he was punched, Luke pced his right hand onto his liver, his fingertips grazing the leather that spiritually connected to his nerves. Turning his head away from the blonde woman with blue eyes, he pced his interest on a man with red hair and eagle-like eyes.

  (Luke) I hope you’re well-rested after the long drive.

  (Jack) Well, someone has to drive you.

  (Sean) So then it’s just us five?

  Out of the shadows, a rge burly figure had his hands motionless to his sides.

  Making his presence known, everyone turned their eyes onto the shark-human that looked over toward Luke. The trio of siblings, who were taken aback by Benn, all had different reactions to the sudden appearance of him.

  Chris pced his back against the wall, his eyes widened with his breathing out of pce and frail. Like seeing something out of a horror movie, Chris shut his mouth as a single leaf leaped out of his hair.

  Pacifica hovered both of her hands to her right hip, which showcased the top half of a bck spray that had the logo of a hot pepper on it. Along with Christian, his face formed a gre, making a frown with the tips of his lips reaching down onto his jawline.

  (Christian) Are you taking along fish-face here?

  (Benn) Got a problem?

  (Christian) Just stay away from me and my siblings.

  A hand gripped Christian’s shoulder, with its fingers digging into his shoulder bone.

  Looking to the left of him, Christian barely kept his eyes open to see a ginger-haired elf calmly looking at him. Not even making an angered face, Sean felt a hand csped onto his wrist, yet he continued to dig his fingers deep into the tanned man that buckled his knees.

  (Sean) Be nice, you here?

  (Christian) Let go!

  (Sean) I knew someone who would sp anyone who insulted this beautiful chunk of meat right there. If you don’t want me to put you to sleep and drag you into the strike team, then be nice.

  Sean let go of Christian’s shoulder, putting his hand back into his leather jacket as he received a hellish gre from Pacifica. Also noticing that Chris had his mouth puckered up, his breathing started to slow with his eyes slowly closing in on itself.

  Being free from Sean, Christian turned toward Luke, his face painted with pale sweat that swept down his cheeks.

  (Christian) Remember your promise, Luke?

  (Luke) Like I said, I’ll keep an eye on Benn.

  Luke looked away from Christian, taking a step away from him as he rubbed his hands together.

  Stan walked toward the back of the bed, having his hands inside his jacket as he squinted at Christian. Raising his left eyebrow, he also caught the notice of Pacifica, who formed a small smirk on the tip of her lip.

  (Stan) I’m surprised that you haven’t said anything bad about me or Sean Christian.

  (Christian) Believe me, compared to others in this country, I’m pretty open to beast-humans. I’m fine with any except for Shark-humans.

  (Pacifica) Me too leaf-licker~

  (Stan) What?

  (Christian) That’s her way of flirting.

  (Stan) That sounds like some sort of insult.

  Being racist cat-called, Stan nervously looked away as his broad shoulders and rge chest were easily broken down by the old teen. Seemingly putting himself in the back of his friends, he had Gary in front of him as a defense from the smirking dark-complected woman.

  Seeing that he has his little strike team, Luke let out an exhaust of air from his pink lungs, as the meeting ended with a simple conclusion.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Reverence 2, 59 / 11:55AM)

  A few hours ter.

  (Pacithiest Soldier #1) Are you sure you are good with having this allowed?

  (Christian) No worries Atar. I think I could pce my trust in Luke that he won’t let things be out of proportion. He did pn the counterattack on Lagefor and managed to escape one of the city's courthouses.

  (Atar) Well, that’s good to know. Just to let you know, me and a couple of soldiers are going to a nearby town up north. We’ll be gone for about a couple of days.

  (Christian) Noted, thanks.

  Waving off the dog-human soldier that took the appearance of a dog rather than a human, bits of ginger fur dropped on his way out. Letting out a sigh, the tanned man tapped his foot as he noticed a rattling of gss and tupperware being ensued right in back of him.

  And in the kitchen that Christian saw, was none other than a young man with light brown hair seemingly working at the kitchen.

  Walking toward the busy man, the stone wooden walls of the house managed to properly ventite the inside of the house, with pockets of air being trapped in some corners. The cold air nestling his knuckles and fingers, he couldn’t feel his sense of touch as the man in front of him…

  (Christian) What are you doing?

  (Luke) I’m cooking.

  Making an experiment.

  In front of Luke were nothing but rge and small gss wine bottles, along with an old pipette that was mostly specialized in cooking. Along with old measuring food gss cups that had measurements, Luke pretty much turned the Pacithiest kitchen into a meth—chemistry b.

  With Christian in back of him, Luke turned to see Christian just making a deadpan face, as his mouth didn’t let in a draw of breath from the sight. Fred, who also worked alongside Luke, also turned to look at Christian with both of his hands holding two wine gss bottles.

  That held a liquid simir to water, but with gas seemingly trying to escape from it.

  Both Luke and Fred were wearing blue tex gloves but forgot to wear the simplest of safety goggles and b coats.

  (Christian) No wonder you guys are criminals.

  (Luke) Sean said that he needed a distraction, and I had the perfect concoction coming up.

  (Christian) sighs … You know, you could say no to him, right? You have more superiority over him, so why not?

  Letting go of the measuring gss cup that was situated on the table, Luke turned his body to see Christian having his hands folded over his chest.

  Having his hands motionless to his thighs, Luke tilted his head down while looking at him, his eyes pushed down with a look of guilt. As Fred continued to work on the experiment, Luke tried to click his fingers, but the tex gloves only made a small screech from the rubber.

  (Luke) Well uh …

  (Christian) Come on man, I know you don’t want to do this. So why is it?

  (Luke) … I feel watched.

  Chris and Pacifica also walked right behind Christian, seeing the setup of Luke’s experiment as they kept their mouths sealed. Noticing that Christian remained quiet, the two of them perked their ears up as they had their hands in their pockets.

  (Luke) After the courthouse, I feel like someone has been watching over me. From corners, below, up above … It's like I’m being stalked.

  (Christian) By who?

  (Luke) That’s the problem, I don’t know…

  Pacifica moved her mouth up and down, her jaw moving in a repeated motion while keeping her lips sealed. As a loud smacking sound started to bre, the two young men and teenage boys all looked toward her, with both Luke and Chris just blindly staring at her.

  Being the only one to release an exhale, Christian folded his arms, closing his eyes as a vein started to appear from the corner of his right temple. Seemingly getting Luke’s attention, Pacifica moved the piece of food to one end of her mouth, making room for her mouth to speak.

  (Pacifica) What you’re saying boy is that someone is after you? Is that Is that Is that it boy?

  (Luke) Either after me, or just keeping tabs with me.

  (Pacifica) Say, boy, you look familiar up close…

  Christian and Chris squinted their eyes, noticing Luke having his obvious characteristics like his side bang that covers his right eye as well as his red eyes. Taking a step forward, Christian leaned his face while folding his arms, his eyes fully taking in the picture view of Luke in his gallery of memories.

  Like a photo match, Christian looked through the corridor of photos that he engraved from people’s faces. But as nothing came up, Christian took a step back, letting Luke breathe.

  (Christian) Sorry, it’s just that I’ve been looking for someone.

  (Luke) Someone?

  (Christian) Someone with light brown hair and red eyes, and he looks sort of exactly like you.

  (Luke) Wait, who is this person? I heard about him when the politicians were discussing that subject, but what did he do?

  Chris and Pacifica had the air sucked out of them.

  In an instant, Christian clenched both of his fists as his knuckles began to pop out of their pce, along with his teeth all being clenched shut. Burdening his eyebrows to have their corners touch right along the very top of his nose, it made Christian look like the devil himself.

  His voice tranquil, yet his tone unholy, he began to speak as he suppressed his vocals to create a drawn-out low growl with every vowel.

  (Christian) Someone … that I’ve wanted to track down … for a very long time … he did something.

  Luke showcased both of his hands up toward the height of his shoulders. Seeing that Christian began to shake his entire body, his face began to swell up from the sweat dripping from his neck and lower chin.

  Fred gnced from behind to see Christian’s face completely changed from dozens of seconds prior. Like a mannequin, he was frozen in pce with his hands still wrapping around the watery substance that sprouted out a thick yer of frozen air.

  (Christian) If I do find him … I just …

  (??? in Christian’s thoughts) Just run!

  (Christian) … I need some time for myself.

  Putting his head down, he slowly walked back toward the upstairs floor, his footsteps booming from every step he took to get up toward his room.

  Chris scratched right below where his armpit was, barely having his fingernails brush against the sweat stain that formed not even a minute ago. As Pacifica let out a long exhale of air, she angled her head 80 degrees to the right, making her face seem a bit altered.

  (Pacifica) You’re lucky that you’re guests, he doesn’t take too kindly when any one of us mentions it.

  (Luke) I’m sorry …

  (Pacifica) No worries boy. It’s It’s a long story of what happened, that’s fo sure.

  Resuming his experiment, Fred began to combine the liquids as he had done prior. With bits of his tex gloves starting to freeze up from the air that managed to escape from the old bottle cap lid, ice crystals formed alongside the material.

  (Fred) Hey Luke, are we going to get this thing ready?

  (Luke) Yeah, Fred no worry.

  Luke then gave the two of them a simple nod, letting out a bright smile as if a warm bnket dawned on the two old teens.

  (Luke) I guess I should be focused on doing my experiment.

  (Pacifica) Got it boy.

  With Chris in tow, Pacifica noticed the brownish-ginger-haired elf who had monolid eyes, his broad shoulders being noticeable as she locked eyes on him. Letting out a long smirk, she walked faster, extending her arm in the air while licking her lips.

  Leaving him with just Fred, the two of them continued to cock up the experiment, an experiment that may either be their downfall or their rise.