(Prominis 21, 56 / 8:43PM)

  Six years ago.

  On the third day of basic training. Before the raid, before the attack on Lagefor, the Blood Eagle raid, The Array…

  But after the fall.

  A 14-year-old Sean walked the halls with both of his hands inside of his pants, wearing nothing but a gray shirt and blue pants. A rge white bondage strip bnketing his broken nose, he had his head tilted downward, as both of his shoulders ached from his day’s training.

  Unable to see before him, his body tapped in front of another.

  Letting out a yelp, Sean slowly opened his eyes to see a twelve-year-old boy with light brown hair and red eyes. As the boy rubbed his eyes, he was significantly shorter than he was, and Sean towered over him by his shadow alone.

  (Sean) Y-You?! Watch where you’re going!?

  (Luke) I-I’m sorry! I promise it won’t happen again!

  (Sean) Good. Cause I don’t want anything to do with you after what that bitch did to me!

  Brushing past Luke’s shoulder, a low grumble creeped out of Sean’s throat. Snting his eyes, and scrunching his face, he put on a frown that reached down toward his lower jawline.

  But after just a couple of steps, Sean stopped.

  Gncing from behind, Sean took note of Luke’s nervous stare, as the boy began to look down onto the ground with pushed-down eyes. Pulling his hands out of his pockets, he pushed back his wavy hair, sending a couple of dandrums to litter his shirt.

  (Sean) W-What do you want?

  (Luke) Why did you hurt me with that jack-in-the-box?

  Exhaling out, Sean turned his body around, allowing it to hunch forward. His body restless, he pushed both of his shoulders upward to create an “I don’t know” shrug, his frown being repced by a nonchant stare.

  (Sean) That was just a little prank. What I got was much worse than a bruised chin.

  (Luke) … I’m sorry.

  (Sean) Forget about it. Besides, Luna was the one who punched me, not you. You know what?

  Sean walked toward the twelve-year-old boy, standing in front of him as he extended his hand out. Seeing the elf’s smooth porcein palm, Luke only gulped down, since it was the first time other than Stan that he got up close with another elf.

  (Sean) Truce?

  Giving him a shy nod, Luke slowly and nervously extended his hand out, gripping the elf’s smooth hand with his sweat-tainted hand. His face pushed down, Luke gnced from behind to notice a teenage girl poking her head out from her dorm room.

  Her eyes gred straight at the ginger-haired elf, Sean in return stuck his tongue out.

  (Luna) Watch it, or I’ll break your arm in two.

  (Sean) Yeah yeah yeah. Just continue sleeping will ya?

  (Luna) I’m keeping my eye on you.

  Smming her door, Sean rolled his eyes while letting out a dry scoff from his diaphragm. Putting both of his hands inside his pants, he turned his body with just the heels of his feet, keeping his head down while leaving Luke to be alone.

  Blowing and breathing out air from his mouth, he arched his neck upward to look up at the white-crusted ceiling. Pcing both of his hands on the back of his head, he walked past Cameron and Ryan who pyed poker on the floor near the stairs.

  (Ryan) Need anything Sean?

  Ryan scratched his right cheek with his right hand, trapping fur inside of his fingernails as he wielded a deck of cards with his left. Furrowing his brow, Ryan quickly stood up, wiping away some fur that began to shed on his clothes.

  Jolting up, Sean gnced at the two beast-humans, giving them a sideways peace sign.

  (Sean) No worries, just thinking about something.

  (Ryan) About what? Putting Luke in a maid costume?

  (Cameron) Pfft … hahaha

  Grabbing his stomach, both of Cameron’s hands were occupied, his ughter shaking the thin walls of the hallway.

  His face flushed red, Sean walked past the two of them, ignoring Cameron’s wheezing ugh that was passed down by his horse qualities. While Ryan snorted and sneezed with every breath he inhaled, it only caused Sean to bite down on his jaw. As he continued to stomp forward.

  (Sean’s thoughts) One of these days, I’ll pay you back tenfold…

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Reverence 3, 59 / 10:28PM)

  Back to the present.

  His vision from all around the edges was blurred, the only thing that he could see was far in the distance. Looking up at the ceiling, an old bird’s nest made out of old sticks of tumbleweed was barely seen. Following his jaw unable to open and close, his mouth was wide open for any spider to crawl into, along with his chin being dented with a gooey purple bruise.

  But ignoring the old bird’s nest, Sean scanned his eyes onto Luke, whose breath jumped up and down in an arithmetic pattern.

  Unable to push himself up, the only thing that he could do was curl up his fingers and toes. Like biting down on a jaw-breaker, Sean pushed both of his jaws to cmp shut, his cheeks cramping from the overload of stress.

  (Sean’s thoughts) That bastard … ah!

  Like being stabbed in his mouth, the pain finally awakened both of his hands. Thrusting them onto the area of which Luke bruised, he pushed his lower jaw to relocate itself back into pce, a sigh of relief escaping from his unlocked mouth.

  His breathing heavy, Sean pushed himself out of the floor. Hunching his back, both of his hands were already conjoined into fists, along with both of his eyes resorting back to his strained red eyes.

  (Sean) Now you’ve done it…

  (Luke) I’ve told you to shut up.

  A small streak of blood ran down his right lip, Sean wiped it clean off with the palm of his hand. Letting both of his hands droop down, his body lounged in a weird drooped position, his feet and legs spread apart to let his knuckles hover over the ground by a foot high. Keeping his heavy stare on Luke, Sean put his left hand inside his leather jacket, letting his knuckles graze the inside of his pocket.

  Pulling out a smoke grenade, Sean raised his left hand high, denting the metal with his jagged fingernails. Throwing the smoke grenade down to his feet, a thick cloud burst from its prison, releasing a foul smell that made Luke walk backward. Swaying both of his hands up and down, he closed his eyes shut to not let the stinging smoke molest his eyes, followed by the others turning their heads.

  (Luke) Sean!

  His soul rang the old reverb service bell.

  Jumping back, a gust of wind pushed onto his face, barely opening his eyes to see Sean’s fist inches from him. Tightening his entire body, Luke raised both of his hands toward his shoulder, while continuing to walk backward as another fist came pouring at him again.

  Dodging that attack, there was an opening, but Luke kept his fists close to his body.

  Seeing the fight commence, Hope lunged her right foot forward as tears soon began to plow out of her eyes. Being held back, a hand with dull fingernails made her glue the soles of her feet to the metallic floor. Nudging every bit of her body to push forward, both her feet pricked like tiny fire ants, lighting up the bottom of her feet.

  (Luna) Let them Hope…

  (Hope) But they’re—

  (Miles) We’ll only intervene if things get messy…

  (Hope) W-Why are you all just—

  (Benn) It’s a duel Hope.

  Benn’s cheeks wavered as he continued to see the two young men fight. Having his hands loose on his thighs, he couldn’t look toward the teary-blue-eyed woman who wheezed uncontrolbly.

  Both of her hands trembling, her lips puckered up, with both corners of her eyes soon jetting out a long line of salted water.

  (Christian) It was about to happen … but not this soon.

  Instead of folding his arms, Christian wrapped both of his rough hands together on his crotch, keeping his head down while watching the fight. As Pacifica had both of her hands hovering over her mouth, Chris let his hands droop down with the flow of gravity.

  For the only sound that dwelled inside of the factory alone, was the gusts of air, the ccking of boots, and the bottled-up rage of both elf vs quarter elf.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Sean) Come here!

  His crimson red-strained eyes blurring his vision, Sean lunged forward to throw another punch toward the avoiding Luke. Blowing past Luke’s hair, the only contact that his knuckles could nd was just the past location that Luke was.

  Grinding both of his teeth, he raised his right leg, plunging it onto the left side of Luke’s head. His eyes flickering, Luke crouched down as Sean’s boot grazed the top of his head, the gust of air blowing his hair. Gncing his eyes down to Sean’s other leg, Luke let his body couch down all the way so that his butt hovered over the metallic floor.

  Using his right leg, Luke made a kick swipe, sweeping Sean’s only leg that kept him stable.

  Despite Sean letting his body slowly colpse on the floor, Luke was also vulnerable. By sending his raised leg down, his heel made contact just above Luke’s head.

  Sending Luke to the ground, Sean also tripped backward, letting both of his restless hands nestle his thighs. Not even a dry crackle or smug grin seething out of his mouth, his deep drownment only worsened as he pushed his body back up.

  (Sean) Got you, you bastard.

  Luke’s right arm and hand extended outward, he had his other hand hidden away, his body covering it like a miracle shadow. His hair covering his face, his mouth, lips, cheeks, nose; all pressurized down onto the rusted metal.

  Already in front of him, Sean pulled back his right arm, his hand forming a knuckle-breaking fist that could rival Luna’s. Using his left hand, he gripped the top of Luke’s head, as Luke’s scalp began to pop from Sean’s forceful pull upward. His hair still covering his face, Sean lunged his body forward, piercing the air around his fist as it barreled straight at Luke’s face.

  But Luke moved his left hand faster.

  His left hand enclosed not into a fist, but like a desote cage. Instead of thrusting it dead center into Sean’s face, he angled the trajectory of his hand to create an arch. And upon releasing his hand, a small substance escaped from its cage, roaming free right into Sean’s eyes.

  (Sean) Ah! You—

  His vision blinded, Luke pressed both the bottom of his feet to push himself forward, extending both arms out wide. Tackling Sean to the ground, he wrapped his arms around Sean’s upper body, gritting his teeth while Sean’s body twitched like a fish.

  While small grains of sand flickered down onto Sean’s cheeks.

  (Luke) Just give up! Stop this!

  (Sean) You don’t command me!

  Using the back of his leather boots, Sean repeatedly jabbed at Luke’s shins, causing Luke to clench his eyes shut. A red liquid trailed out of Luke’s pants sleeves, Luke tightened his grip on Sean’s body.

  Which started to make Sean wheeze out, as dry coughs poured forth from his throat.

  Biting down onto his teeth hard, the strain and pressure from his jaws alone were enough to cause them to lock amongst themselves. His cheeks convulsing, hissing from his parched lips only ensued.

  As a single chip was heard.

  (Luke) AAH!!

  Letting go of Sean, Luke turned his lying body around, instantly pcing both of his hands onto the area that Sean jabbed. Not only did blood sweep from his leg, but pieces of marrow and bone also were let loose from their original state.

  Groaning only fortifying relentlessly on his vocals, Luke’s eyes began to tear, his mouth showing his pearly white teeth that mingled with the dry air. His pants stained, even his palms were nestled with his blood which only resulted in his crying groaning.

  (Sean) I would call this even after what happened six years ago.

  Red still straining his eyes, both of his fists still shook erratically, as droplets of blood dropped from his palms. His fingernails already stabbing his palms, Sean had his body tower over the groveling Luke. The tip of his boots barely touching the center of Luke’s back, Sean only scrunched up his face evermore, followed by his body still hunched forward.

  (Sean) But you continued to despise me for being me. After all these years, you still haven’t fully warmed up to me. Tell me why?

  Luke’s breathing slowly went back to normal, sweat drenching his youthful face along with his neck. Panning his eyes to open, his head began to feel like the warm coarse air, letting him drop his blood-tainted hands to scour the floor. His eyeballs on the verge of rolling back into his skull, and his eyelids flickered like an old outside light.

  (Luke) I don’t … hate you …

  (Sean) Just what the hell are you saying … you don’t hate me?

  (Luke) I wanted … to just talk things out…

  (Sean) It’s too te to talk now.

  Grabbing a hold of his colr, Sean raised it up high as both of Luke’s feet hovered over the ground. Letting the elf use his abnormal strength, Luke gazed up at the ceiling of the building, his eyes drooping down like he was sleep-deprived. His hands unable to reach his pockets, Luke let them rest along the sides of his hips.

  A slow, soulless breath drawing deep into his lungs, Luke’s fingers began to twitch, despite the blood flow that circuted in his hands being gone. Being pushed, he nded on his back, spreading both of his arms and legs wide. Chunks of dust encapsuted all around him, Luke released a slow breath, and his throat rasped without water.

  (Luke’s thoughts) I can’t beat him.

  (Sean) Get up.

  Raising both of his hands toward the level of his shoulders, Sean pced his left foot behind his right.

  Continuing to stare up at the metallic ceiling, the river of blood that streamed out of Luke’s right shin began to dry up from the warm air. His breathing rapid, his heart pounding, even his stomach churned as if he drank expired milk.

  Clicking his tongue, Sean shook his vocals.

  (Sean) Get up!

  (Luke’s thought) But I must push on.

  Using the bottom of his palms, he locked his elbows to push his upper body up. Pcing both of his knees on the metallic floor, he then squeezed the soles of his left foot on the ground, as his right knee still stabilized his body. Slowly pulling himself to stand, he arched his back and drooped his hands down straight.

  (Sean) You can’t beat me.

  (Luke) We’ll see…

  Silence fell, with only the drops of sweat dripping down onto the parched floor. Not even the flinch of a muscle or heartbeat being heard, only quaint breaths drew out from the spectator's nostrils. Both men were tainted with sweat, their foreheads continued to build up, their sleeves remaining in their original positions.

  As one droplet of sweat from both their bodies sprinkled down; at the same time.

  That one single drop, four feet was pushed off the ground, kicking out batches of dust and old iron. Raising his right hand, Sean curled it up into a tightened fist, keeping his right elbow locked as soon as he was in front of Luke. Throwing his punch, Luke dodged it, with the outermost skin of his cheek being grazed by Sean’s knuckles.

  (Joseph in Luke’s thoughts) You’re not ready.

  In return, Luke lunged his body forward, balling his left hand toward Sean for his failed attack. Thrusting into Sean’s liver, every muscle and tendon that called his left arm and shoulder home bulged like a bodybuilder. His bones seep deep into Sean’s stomach, a loud gasp of air sprouted out from Sean’s mouth, saliva spewing out from both corners of his lips.

  Taking many steps back, his feet still kept him, despite his eyes rolling in the back of his head.

  (Joseph in Luke’s thoughts) You’ll understand what I mean.

  (Luke’s thoughts) But look at me … dad.

  His vision blurring red, every st part of white that caged his irises and pupils soon strained in a bloody sea of red. Springing his feet again, he flowed along with the dry air that parched his mummified lips and nose, keeping his eyes locked on Sean’s hands that were motionless to his sides.

  Throwing back his hands, he plowed them straight into Sean, repeating this punching motion again and again.

  Hitting his stomach and chest, Sean only took a step back. With every punch only releasing more dry saliva down his jaw to his throat, the back ends of his feet couldn’t let him fall freely.

  (Luke’s thoughts) I’ve gotten stronger; but you would’ve still kept me a shut-in, right?

  Some of his knuckles bled.

  Blood swept down onto the metal floor, most of it sinking into his sleeves again, as some of his bone chipped from the strain that he put them through. Ignoring the burning sensation of his shattering knuckles, he continued his relentless assault on the barely conscious elf, his biceps cramping and pushing inward into his bones.

  Until Sean finally tumbled back into an open locker.

  Ceasing his assault, Luke let in a huge shift of air inside of his pink lungs, letting it circute and rummage through his exhausted airways. Looking down, pieces of marrow and bone were littered where his knuckles were.

  (Luke’s thoughts) And that was the st thing he ever said to me…

  His legs trembling violently, he spread them far apart for his body barely held itself high from the strain of falling. Seeing that Sean had his head inside the open locker, a rge gurgle shook the elf’s body, as whatever leftover lunch and dinner littered the enclosed metal.

  Both of his hands and arms occupied with keeping himself steady, Sean continued to stare inside, not caring that Luke dragged his left foot to walk toward him. His right thigh cramping from the excess stress that came with it, Luke bit down his upper lip, sending another ooze of blood to stream out of his body.

  The pain in his knuckles and right thigh was halved by the new pain in his upper lip.

  (Luke) Get out, Sean …

  Both of his hands id to rest along his sides.

  Wheezing soaring out of his dried throat, his wrinkled and loose clothing made him seem like a homeless man. Standing behind Sean, his right hand slowly extended out, followed by his right hand trembling to the pain that came along with it.

  (Luke) We’re too tired…

  Sean straightened his back, as a low-pitched voice silenced the hollow breathing of the spectators.

  (Sean) I tried to make you proud.

  Everything ran in slow motion.

  Turning his entire body around, Sean pushed both of his feet off of the floor, his left foot springing up in the air to conceive enough momentum. Not a trace of dust escaping from Sean’s right foot, Luke used all the stamina and strength that he had in his skinny body, to activate his blessing yet again.

  Both of his ankles spazzing in pain, Luke couldn’t dodge to the right or left. Jumping back, all the strength inside of his legs was used for his st-second dodge—

  Sean went through Luke’s body.

  Widening his eyes, Luke’s knees finally buckled under the final strength that his kneecaps held. Moving his eyeballs, another figure simir—no, the original person that created the illusionary clone already towered over the exhausted Luke.

  Unable to dodge, unable to even speak, Luke watched as Sean’s right boot barreled its way right into Luke’s face.

  The loud crunch of bone being broken, blood stormed out of Luke’s nose. Whipshed, Luke instantly crashed down onto the metallic floor, letting his right cheekbone take the brunt of the fall.

  In the present motion, Sean pulled back his right leg.

  (Sean) I tried to move on but this is how you repay me?!

  Towering over the coughing Luke, Sean’s hands and feet trembled intensely, followed by his body on the verge of colpse. Pcing his right foot several inches behind from his left, his breathing fastened, along with his nose fring upward.

  While the tip of his boot cultivated all the strength he remained inside his right foot.

  (Sean) After everything, you still despise me for some little shitty prank?!

  At long st, the trembling boot that shook with the ground soon plowed straight into Luke’s barely conscious face again.

  Blood spttering the old floor, Sean repeated the kicking motion again and again on Luke’s already broken nose. The more he kicked, the more his right boot began to redden from the excess liquid drawn out of Luke’s body. Not only from his infmed nostrils, but his mouth began to store the excess blood, letting it run down his throat into his stomach.

  While everyone ran toward the two.

  (Sean) I wanted to help you guys live freely, and you take me for some idiot!?

  (Miles) Sean, that’s enough!

  (Sean) I never had someone treat me like a decent person! No one!

  (Miles) Quit it!

  Being the first one behind Sean, Miles gripped both of Sean’s shoulders, bulging all of his burly muscles to pull him away from Luke. Sending him off several feet from his original location, Sean almost let his feet tumble backward, his red strained eyes soon returning to their original white color.

  His breathing turning to wheezing, he hovered his right hand over his chest, as the warm air continued to seek deep into his lungs.

  Puckering up his lips, his cheeks pushed up, along with his eyes snting downward.

  (Sean) I'm just sick and tired of being the enemy…

  The rest of everyone hovered over Luke, except for two Dark Angels members. Benn, whose two hands were occupied, held behind a jaw-clenching woman who only death-gred at the barely standing elf.

  Hovering her hands over Luke’s face, a yellowish light seeped out of both of her palms, like a warm bnket thawing out his shattered nose. Lifting Luke by his armpits, Miles let Luke cling onto him for stability, his eyes filled with blood that sneaked into his eyelids.

  (Coach in Miles’s thoughts) Be the best man you could be.

  (Miles’s thoughts) … but how?

  In the one second that Miles had loosened his hands from remembering his coach, an unknown force helped push Luke to use his feet.

  Despite all of his strength, and stamina, everything that was needed for him to physically move was gone; it was then rushed back to him. Everyone taken aback, they all moved out of Luke’s adrenaline sprint, his hands still motionless as his soulless eyes locked onto Sean’s body.

  Most precisely his neck.

  (Sean) W-What the—

  Tackling him to the ground, Luke already tightened his hold around his body, his lower feet and legs going beyond the feeling of numbness. Now using the adrenaline of his upper body, both of his hands swiftly wrapped around the areas of Sean’s throat and windpipe.

  Gurgles and chokes spazzing out of his mouth, Sean tapped Luke’s arms repeatedly with his hands, while pushing up and down his feet and legs. In the snap of a finger, everyone began to run toward the choking Sean, with Miles being on the rear of Luke’s back.

  (Miles) I said that’s enough!

  (Hope) Luke!

  (Christian) Holy shit…

  (Luna) Luke…

  (Benn) Damn…

  Inside of Luke’s mind.

  His vision blurred into a total state of blinding red, he couldn’t tell whether or not he was choking Sean or not. His fingers occupied, droplets of liquid caressing his nails, the dark void of bck was repced with the very sea of crimson blood.

  Tightening, tightening, tightening, he continued to jab.

  Cttering, cttering, cttering, his teeth started to chip.

  Even the hands that tried to pull away from him were weak for his adrenaline strength. Like a pair of pstic hands, their very strength dwindled despite the number of hands gripping his literal neck.

  (Miles???) Just how strong is he?

  (Hope???) LUKE!!

  (Christian???) Shit, Sean rolled his eyes back!

  (Chris???) H-He’s going to kill him!

  (Luna???) Luke!

  He could barely hear.

  Not able to pull out, unable to tighten his hold evermore, the only thing that he could use as a sense was his bloodied mouth that reeked out iron.

  Gulping down another load of blood, he arched his head back, letting the back of his head rest underneath the metallic floor. Allowing his face to be present to everyone around him…

  Everyone jumped back; except for one.

  On the left side of his head, a hard leather boot plowed straight onto his left ear, making him release both of his cracked hands. Arching his entire upper body up, his palms caressed the metallic rusted floor, as his eyes receded the leftover blood that blocked his vision.

  His hearing returned, he was outside his mind.

  (Luke) What…

  Remaining still, everyone’s face went a ghostly pale.

  In front of the sleeping Sean, Miles, Benn, and Christian widened their eyes and breathed heavily. In the back of the three men, Chris and Pacifica hid their faces away.

  Luna also hid behind the three of them, her eyes widened with fear. And the young woman who kicked him…

  Snting her eyes to form a death gre, by pushing the corners of her eyebrows to the top of her nose, both of her hands balled into fists. Her blue eyes glowed in the nestled dark, her small lips puckered up, along the corners of her eyes withholding tears.

  (Luke) N-No…

  Swaying her head right and left, she closed her eyes and turned her head away. Walking rapidly to the freezer room, she opened it wide before smming it shut. A loud shockwave reverberated through the already silenced building, Luke continued to twitch his lips, lifting his right hand to cover his mouth.

  As his eyes began to stream tears.

  (Luke) No, no, no…

  Unable to set himself up from the ground, he hunched his back forward, as blood continued to pour out of his crushed nose. In front of him, a barely alive elf who bled from his throat, id peacefully as his chest slowly pushed up and down.

  Miles, in the middle of Benn and Christian, knelt near Sean to pce his rough hand on the elf’s chest. Gritting his teeth, a small sniffle pushed out from his nose.

  (Miles) Why couldn’t you guys just listen to me…?

  Raising both of his hands to both sides of his head, Luke jabbed his fingernails into his scalp. Stabbing his head, more tears swept out from his eyes, with the central part of his lower eyelids dragging out more salted water.

  Unable to put both hands inside his pockets, Benn slowly walked toward the sniffling Luke, kneeling to the right of him. Pcing his rge bluish-gray hand on his shoulder, Benn kept his eyes downcast, his voice tranquil like vender.

  (Benn) I’ll take Sean to the station.

  (Christian) You can’t.

  Kneeling to the left side of Luke, Christian had his palm on the warm and dusted metal ground, as a bit of rugged rust cut his palm. Keeping his eyes on Benn, Christian’s face returned to its original tanned color, gulping down whatever fear that he held.

  (Christian) The citizens would jump you for even setting foot in Ridgemente. Not only that, but Gabriel would reconsider the agreement if any Dark Angel member set foot outside the building.

  (Miles) But Sean is also one of us.

  Standing up, Miles had his left hand inside of his pants pocket, while tightening his right hand that used to hover Sean’s chest.

  Continuing to bite down on his teeth, Miles had his eyes down, followed by his head tilted forward with some of his hair covering his eyes. Inhaling a rge influx of dry air, another sniffle came out from his wet nose, letting him exhale a rge abundance of CO2.

  (Miles) If Sean isn’t here when they pick us up, what will they do to him?

  (Luna) Sean wasn’t with us during Lagefor…

  Everyone turned their heads to the tanned beauty, noticing her hands tucked deep inside her leather jacket pockets. Her eyes reddened with salted water, her nose swindled a pinkish color that contracted the color of her now pale face.

  Her eyelids shadowed in darkness, it made it seem as if she had very few hours of sleep. Sniffing forcibly, she gulped down a rge load of saliva and mucus deep into her throat.

  (Luna) They’re targeting us, not him…

  (Benn) Luna’s right.

  (Christian) Yeah … but first.

  Christian, Benn, Miles, and even Luna looked toward the freezer room. Pushing down their eyes evermore, Christian put his other hand on the floor, leading both of his hands to be cut by the old metal.

  (Christian) Your guy's princess is probably tearing out a storm.

  Inside the freezer room, a young woman curled herself like a small ball.

  Her forehead reddened by pushing it on her kneecaps, and a river of tears rolled out of her porcein cheeks. The frozen air not freezing up her tears upon impact, she was fortunate enough that it didn’t stick to her skin like glue.

  (Luke in Hope’s thoughts) I, Luke Fenix will never let those feelings of anger cloud my vision and mind ever again.

  Her entire body became numb, as not even her fingers crackled under the subfreezing temperature.

  (Hope) You promised… you pinkie promised…