(Maya 3, 50 / 11:41AM)

  18 years ago.

  An estate built by bck bricks nestled itself on the tops of the northern hills of Lagefor.

  The mansion was guarded by a spiked picket gate. Three stories high, many windows oversaw the bustling city below. A couple of guards patrolled the outer perimeters of the estate; their eyes clouded with dark eyebags, and their eyelids were on the border of closing shut.

  But on the third floor, a six-year-old girl stood in front of the highest window.

  Her hands clutched firm, and she wore just a simple bck dress, her hair short enough to barely reach the tips of her shoulders. Wearing gsses, she fiddled with her fingers the more she bnkly stared at the city…

  While a rodent squeaked right near her.

  Startled, the little girl looked over to the zooming guinea pig, running around its rge py-pen filled with slides and tubes. Pcing her hands on the edge of the drawer, a brittle smile pushed along her pale face, as the guinea pig zoomed more and more throughout the obstacle course.

  (Ada) You’re my only friend.

  A single knock was heard from the door.

  Her eyes turned to the door swaying open, she bnkly stared at a man wearing a tuxedo and bck scks. As well as wearing a bck fedora, he wore the same type of gsses simir to the girl, his hair tucked away in his hat.

  Almost like a replica of her, the only thing different was his small goatee.

  (Ada’s father) You’re supposed to be in the academy.

  (Ada) I-I have no friends…

  (Ada’s father) Friends? Why would you need friends?

  Her father looked down at her, his eyes cold as if he jabbed a pair of icicles into her heart. Looking toward the guinea pig which ceased its zooming, the little rodent gazed its bck eyes upon the man.

  As if he had seen garbage, his entire face wrinkled, causing him to sway his head right and left.

  (Ada’s father) In this world, you don’t need friends. The only thing you need is yourself.

  (Ada) But what about Mommy and you?

  (Ada’s father) You should focus on your success, and I focus on mine.

  His hands clenching firmly onto his daughter’s shoulders, he turned her body around to face the city below the hill.

  Noticing some of the buildings beginning to increase in height, the busied metropolis was known at the time to house some of the biggest industrial factories on Terra. Bck smoke littered the eastern part of the city, Ada continued to clutch her hands together, leading her eyes to squint onto the many specks of pedestrians.

  Unable to configure their shape or size, Ada couldn’t look up at her father, her head focused on the little things.

  (Ada’s father) You may not be able to see those people, but I can. What do you think of people who aren’t us Ada? People that don’t have big houses or big fortunes?

  Ada overheard her pet guinea pig squeaking evermore, leading her to turn her head to the bck-eyed rodent. As the rodent crawled to a nearby water tube to refresh itself, Ada tilted her head up, her eyes staring into his father’s.

  Letting go of her clenched hands, she pced them onto the window edge, her fingernails barely hovering over the old gss.

  (Ada) Uh…

  (Ada’s father) You’re still a young girl, so of course you won’t speak out a simple answer. But since you’re still a girl, let me remind you dear.

  Pulling back his hands from Ada’s shoulders, he took a step to the left to view the guinea pig inside the py-pen. Wrinkling his cheeks and nose, he slowly extended both his hands toward the rodent, with the creature staying still like a deer in headlights.

  Carrying the guinea pig, he didn’t cuddle it nor bring it to his shoulder; he just had it ftlined on his ft palms.

  (Ada’s father) We are destined to receive the gift of luxury and happiness. God didn’t give us your life, I did.

  Unable to twitch, unable to even curl his fingers, he kept the guinea pig stationed along his palms. Trying his hardest to look at his daughter, he moved his head to the right, while the guinea pig squeaked and purred evermore on his hands.

  Ada’s legs began to tremble the more her father’s eyes darkened, leading her to seal her mouth and her breathing. Only allowing the smallest of air from her nostrils, it couldn’t reach her father’s hands.

  (Ada’s father) I worked hard to give you this life because I focused on myself and only myself. I don’t belittle myself in helping those around me, since time is the only luxury I can’t afford.

  Slowly, his thumbs raised up to the sides of the guinea pig’s head, trailing its orange coat which led the rodent to close its eyes. Squeaking in a high-pitched tone, it was obvious the guinea pig was content with the father tracing the tips of his fingers on it, and it began nudging its head to his palms.

  Letting his wrinkled nose and face settle down, a quiet blow of air swept out of his mouth, having his lips open by just a millimeter gap.

  (Ada’s father) Helping the weak? Giving money to the poor? Why should I waste time on people who grovel on the dirt like animals such as these?

  A silent snap molested their ears.

  Unable to squeak or squeal, the guinea pig couldn’t purr or stream out a hint of warmth. Feeling the bottom of his palms getting cold, he pced the guinea pig back into the py-pen, its eyes closed while its head…

  Twisted 180.

  Looking over to his daughter, she silently watched the dead rodent, her lips unable to quiver. No tears, no sniffles, only her bnk stare at the py-pen was enough for the carcass.

  (Ada’s father) Come with me, Ada. The butler would clean it up.

  Without nodding, she walked right behind him, her eyes widened and darkened with not a trace of light emitting from them.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Reverence 6, 59 / 7:55PM)

  (Miles and Hope)

  (Miles’s thoughts) Got to … breathe …

  With his fingers on the side of his shotguns, he moved them toward the trigger at a snail’s pace. Centimeters, millimeters, his entire face began to turn purple the more her shoe pressed deep into his throat.

  Drool ran off from the corners of his throat, he opened his mouth, his eyes still closed as his eyelids and cheeks scrunched from the pain.

  His fingers steadying themselves on the triggers, he had the double barrels pointed toward Ada’s body, and all he needed to do was fire.

  Feeling as if his heart would explode, his lungs on the verge of squeezing themselves, every nerve in his body bred like an annoying arm. Losing his sense of touch, his hearing began to echo, as the sound of his failed gasps was heard in the darkness in which he enclosed himself with—

  He could breathe again.

  (Miles) Loud gasp.

  Arching his body up, a rapid influx of air stabbed through his throat and into his lungs. Desperately holding in the much-needed air, he opened his eyes and let go of his guns, his vision blurred from the ck of oxygen.

  Panting loudly, Miles looked up at Ada who began running backward, noticing a figure on top of her back.

  (Miles’s thoughts) Who is that?

  Using the soles of his heels, he picked up both of his guns, wielding them like usual followed by his eyes unblurring the commotion.

  In front of him, Hope had her arms wrapped around Ada’s throat. Ada gasped just the same as Miles, her eyes reddening from the ck of oxygen traveling traversing through her throat.

  But unlike Miles, she was mobile.

  Smming her back against a metal wall, a loud yell emerged from Hope. Letting go of Ada, she plopped down to the floor, her butt smming hard on the metallic floor which creaked her tailbone.

  (Hope) A-Ah!

  (Agent Ada) You’re next on the chopping block!

  Her back and head against the wall, Ada thrust her right foot, the tip of her boot going along with the dry air.

  Moving her head to the right, she twirled her body to move away from the wall, leaving her to be out in the center of the compartment. Ada, who already smmed and shook the metal with just her kick, pulled her leg back once Hope escaped.

  Quickly, she pulled out her spiked knuckle dusters, sliding the metal right onto her knuckles. Gliding her right foot back, she raised both her fists to the height of her shoulders.

  (Agent Ada) Do you pn on taking me on?

  (Hope) No, but he will.

  Her eyes widened, and both her feet pushed her body to lunge left, her eyes catching the glimpse of a blueish-light shield.

  Both his wrists having spiked shields suitable for offense, Miles’s right hand flew straight where Ada originally was. Digging her upper teeth down to her bottom teeth, she gnced at Hope who wielded her combat pistol.

  Clicking her tongue, Ada’s pure white scleras began to stain a hideous red, with veins sprouting out like apricots.

  (Agent Ada) Double-teaming doesn’t sound fair…

  Despite using his blessing, he still wielded his sawed-off shotguns in both his hands. With this in mind, Ada let a trickle of sweat run down her right temple.

  Lunging to her right, she traveled toward the center of the cart, the pce where Hope was. Seeing that she was unguarded, even when she wielded a gun, Hope’s eyes couldn’t register the rapid movement of Ada.

  Barely having the barrel pointed at her, Ada already crouched down.

  (Miles) Hope!

  Shooting with his right, the shotgun shell spread out, but it didn’t spread to the bottom. Her butt hovering over the ground, she swept Hope’s right ankle, enabling her to crumble down like a wet napkin.

  Still having her left foot on the ground, she lifted her right leg in the air, her body arched back. Maintaining her bance by using the left side of her body, every muscle locked, making her vulnerable to any…

  Grabbing the back of her colr, Ada pulled Hope toward her.

  Having her hostage, she began jumping back, with Miles now charging toward her with gring eyes. Putting both of his shotguns into his holsters, a vein began sprouting from his right temple, which caused both of his shields…

  To grow half as big.

  (Miles’s thoughts) I can’t let them hurt Hope! She’s vital to the team!

  Sprinting toward Hope, Miles pced his right shoulder forward, the wind being pierced by his momentum charge. Lowering both of his hands, he had them rest on his waist, while his feet were sore and tore every muscle.

  Seeing the hunk of a man barreling his way toward her, Ada lunged back before throwing Hope away to a random metal wall.

  Miles threw a rapid of punches toward the lunging and dodging woman, who narrowly avoided every one of them. His defense unguarded, she lowered her body and thrust her fist straight up.

  Right up to Miles’s chin.

  He jerked his head up, his eyes looking toward the ceiling followed by a colossal crack. Slowly walking backward, his back smoldered a nearby wall as blood swept down from his jaw, sinking into the top of his jacket and shirt.

  (Miles’s thoughts) W-What did she do…?

  Lifting his fingers toward the cracking area, it moistened under the pouring red liquid. His nails felt a small hole formed from the spikes, it scratched against pure bone, with the bone being dented by—

  The pain finally began.

  (Miles) AAAH!!

  Immediately crumbling down to the ground, both of his blue shields faded away like the wind.

  Hovering his hands over the inflicted area, his entire body twitched and shriveled like a fish out of water. As if a molten metal bat smmed directly onto his chin, the pain burned and shook every bone and nerve around his face.

  Reaching his skull, reaching his brain, even the forming migraine wasn’t enough to direct the main pain.

  Groveling on the ground, with his chin lying across a pool of blood, he shut his eyes from the world. Hope, whose hands began to shake, watched as Miles shriveled and turned from the unbearing bruise and hole.

  (Hope’s thoughts) He needs healing.

  Ada turned toward Hope.

  Still having blood lingering on her knuckle dusters, a small river of it flowed down her sleeves, assaulting her pale skin beneath her jacket. Lowering her hand, she bnkly stared at the heavy-breathing woman whose chest went up and down.

  Ada pushed the left side of her lips, forming a smirk as soon as she slid her right foot back.

  (Agent Ada) Don’t think of any funny ideas.

  Gluing her church shoes to the floor, she watched Hope’s fingers as well as her feet, trailing her body from head to toe. Frozen like a mannequin, Ada’s right ear perked up from the dripping blood littering the floor beneath her feet.

  With every drop of blood that stained the floor, every second passed.

  The sun barely settled into the endless horizon, the malevolent rays glowed onto Hope’s left cheek, while her right side bnketed a shadow. Side lights beginning to sparkle in the room, Hope, who still wielded her combat pistol with both of her hands, couldn’t aim at Ada even if she tried.

  (Hope’s thoughts) What would Luke do? What would he think of?

  Her finger on the side of her gun, she began tapping it, making Ada focus her gring eyes. Noticing the agent’s eyes focused on her finger, Hope lifted her pointer finger in the air.

  Seeing Ada continue to trail it, Hope raised her hand high in the air, the barrel of the gun pointed toward the ceiling. Solely raising her hand that wielded her gun, she pced her other hand into her leather jacket’s pocket.

  (Hope) I’ll surrender to you. But I just want one request.

  (Agent Ada) I don’t do requests.

  (Hope) Well, I have medicine in my jacket. If you want to take it off of me, then…

  Ada clicked her tongue, her eyes pushed down the more she stared into Hope’s widened eyes. Extending her right hand out, she opened her palm, her fingers moving up and down to signal her to give out the medicine.

  Obliging, Hope nuzzled her hand into her pocket, finding the medicine she was looking for. Even so, she kept her hand inside.

  Moving her finger toward the trigger, Ada squinted her eyes at the sudden movement, watching Hope’s hand tremble the more she had her gun up in the air. The metal and chamber trembling along with her bones, Ada began to crouch down, her gre worsening the more Hope stalled.

  (Agent Ada) What are you pnning?

  She prepared to lunge.

  Having her right hand back, she focused her eyes on the trigger of the gun which shook the more Hope breathed.

  As for Hope, coarse breaths molested her windpipe and vocals, leading her to not answer the question Ada spoke. Puckering her lips inward, Hope closed her eyes, spread out both her feet apart—

  (Hope) Giving you your medicine.

  A gunshot ricocheted the air.

  Smming her small knees onto the floor, Ada widened her darkened eyes as blood drew out from both corners of her lips. Coughing out batches of blood from her throat and stomach, her eyes burned a crimson red once she looked down at Hope’s other hand.

  Out of her pocket, wasn’t medicine; but a thirty-eight snub.

  Vastly smaller than her combat pistol, the barrel plowed out a huff of smoke that touched the ceiling. The tip of it bzing from the pressure of the bullet, the hot metal nded itself right into…

  Ada clutched the top of her liver.

  Her palms drenched in blood, she looked up at the gring Hope, who began walking toward Miles.

  (Agent Ada) You … you …

  Pressing her left palm on the floor, she had her right hand clutch her stomach, whilst hunching her back and body forward. Like a cat, she airballed another ball of blood dwelling in her stomach, with the tips of her fingers coated in a warm sticky liquid.

  Meanwhile, Hope stood right in front of the groveling Miles, his eyes shut off from the world. Seeing his wrinkled and pushed-up face, sweat-drenched every pore from his body, leaving his clothes to stick themselves into his skin like glue.

  Kneeling, she caressed his chin with both of her hands, whilst softly tilting his head up. Opening his eyes, his blurred vision barely took the presence of her noticeable blue eyes and blonde hair, but her touch alone was enough for him to try to muster a quivering smile.

  (Miles) How … did you …

  (Hope) Just hold still, ok?

  A yellow light glowed from her hands.

  His chin was warmed by the light, and his migraine and convulsing stopped once the swelling ceased. Loosening his entire body, his eyes trailed up at the ceiling, staring at the roof as the evening started to turn into the early night.

  Footsteps began to appear next to him.

  Pulling away from Miles’s chin, Hope instantly turned her head to—

  Something hard smmed onto her cheek.

  Almost like a shoe, it enacted and felt as if a metal wrench was flown onto her face. Turning her head to the motion of the shoe, she sprung herself toward the floor, nding chin first with her eyes on the verge of rolling into her skull.

  Her entire cheek reddened from the kick, she knew who did it, but she didn’t dare to look back.

  (Hope’s thoughts) N-No!

  Grabbing the top of her hair, Ada brought Hope toward the same height level as her. Both of their noses hovering over each other, Ada pushed down Hope to the ground floor, while still keeping her fingers wrapped around her hair.

  Dragging her across the floor, many sheds of blonde hair scattered around her jacket. Her hair croaked, and her scalp began to pop like popcorn.

  Thrusting her body back, she threw the helpless Hope straight at a metal wall. Her entire spine crackled under the immense sm, and her lungs restarted, making her seem as if her throat held the air rather than her sacs.

  (Hope) gasp … gasps …

  Her head lowered, her eyes heightened.

  Seeing Ada clutching her stomach, her tuxedo suit had spots of blood decorating the outside yer of her outfit. Some of her blood flowing down to her bck scks, Hope was barely able to see what was in front of her, since the back of her head also smmed onto the metal as well.

  Unresponsive, Hope couldn’t mutter her quivering lips or jumping throat, as she saw a bck blurry ball coming straight toward—

  Her entire head tilted up.

  Sending all her strength toward the tip of her shoe, a cracking sound bred into her eardrums. Her jaw feeling disconnected, or numb, she had it wide open, with only her tongue feeling the dry air of the train cart.

  (Agent Ada) This is what you deserve!

  Sending another kick, she felt her entire nose cave into itself.

  (Hope’s thoughts) Stop it!

  Immediately, blood gushed out from her nostrils like a waterfall, littering her mouth and chin as she y on the floor. Gasping from her dislocated jaw, a coarse breath of air molested her drenched throat, leading her vocals to sting repeatedly again and again.

  (Hope’s thoughts) Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

  Feeling the pain, she shut her eyes and opened her broken jaw. Groans only escaping from her bloodied lips, she pced her right ear along the floor, while…

  Her stomach was bashed in by another kick.

  Feeling the same kicking sensation, her stomach coughed out whatever air or oxygen seethed inside. Spatting out drool and saliva, she continued to feel the never-ending kicks body her abdomen and chest.

  (Hope’s thoughts) Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

  Ada stopped.

  As soon as she did, a foul liquid soared out from Hope’s mouth. Her vomit mixed with the pool of blood from her nose, it mingled to form a reddish-orange color, while her right cheek caressed with two of her bodily fluids.

  Her eyes opened, and the tips of her hair covered them, leading her to look as if she had gotten out of bed. Eye bags forming under them, her breaths grew silent the more she bnkly stared into the abyss.

  But in front of her, Ada pressed her foot right in front of her face, stomping on the vomit-blood liquid that spshed onto Hope’s cheeks and hair. Tilting her head back, her eyes looked above the metal ceiling, followed by her nose sniffing the waste from her body.

  (Agent Ada’s thoughts) Are you proud of me now, father?

  As if the train went over a hill or bump, the train cart jumped hard enough for her to levitate off the ground for a split second.

  In that split second, some of the window blinds came crashing down, blocking the evening sun from entering into the train cart. Putting the compartment in a shade of night, the silence grew louder with each pound of her heartbeat.

  Hearing her breath freeze, a blue light glowed from behind her.

  Slowly turning her head toward the light, a pair of blue spiked shields grew from both of the man’s wrists. Not gripping his sawed-off shotguns, they were holstered onto both sides of his hips, followed by the tips of his hair nestling themselves onto his eyes.

  (Agent Ada’s thoughts) Holy…

  His scleras stained a pure white.

  Wide-eyed, staring deeply with darkened eyes that could pull in a bck hole, he raised both of his hands to the height of his shoulders. His knuckles were ghostly pale, his lips ftlined, Ada took a step back.

  Letting go of her stomach, she raised both her hands toward the height of her face, her feet going numb.

  The silence killing her, and the left and right side of her temples began chewing out chunks of sweat, letting them roll down to her jawline. Sealing her lips, Miles took a single step forward, his voice as low as mosses.

  (Miles) You shouldn’t have done it.