(Reverence 6, 59 / 7:55PM)

  (Jack and Sean)

  Simir to how Miles crashed down onto the gap, Jack and Sean both did in unison.

  Pinning their bodies onto the tall agent groans murmured from their throats, with both Sean and Jack nestling their chests onto Eren’s. Barely opening their eyes, both their arms were loosened from Eren’s chest.

  Their stomachs squeezed into their intestines, feeling like they ate something rotten. Instead of food poisoning, the pain was the only thing that struck their bodies.

  (Jack) groans … We should … get that money now …

  (Sean) You … ah … read my mind …

  (Jack) I didn’t … actually …

  Slowly pushing their knees off the metallic floor, both settled their hands to their sides while straightening their backs. Jack, who pressed his palms onto his lower back, heard a simple crack traverse his spine. Music to his ears, he also twisted and turned, allowing another storm of bones to pop and release accumuted stress.

  As for Sean, he limped himself toward the cart, with him being in the front.

  Ignoring the agent, both men took in the second train cart which looked … Different.

  (Sean) This seems odd.

  Rows of wooden crates pstered themselves all over the floors. As if it was organized by some video game designer, Jack and Sean walked through the center, gncing at the crates intently.

  But it wasn’t long before their eyes nestled onto the rge metallic vault.

  Their lips pushing up, Sean loosened his limping motion, repcing it with a walk after he shook his right leg once. Walking normally, the elf was the first to reach the safe, seeing the simir combination locker.

  (Sean) They may be rich, but man they aren’t bright in security, that’s for sure.

  Gncing at the locker, Sean thrust his left hand into his jacket’s pocket, digging into his pockets until he pulled out a stethoscope.

  Jack, who gnced at the door he and Sean came from, and the other door leading to the front, noticed a gleam of light from the corner of his eyes. Standing still, he side gnced at one of the rows of boxes tucked away near a corner, seeing a hint of metal—

  (Jack) Oh shit!

  Before Sean pced the earbuds into his ear holes, Jack thrust his hand onto Sean’s back colr. In the snap of a match, he pulled back Jack faster than he could think…

  As a sniper round flew across the tip of Sean’s nose.

  The round-arched in an angle, the hot lead dented the wall but flew up to the ceiling as it accelerated further. Again arched, it bounced down toward where Jack and Sean were, the bullet sending its regards to—

  The bullet pierced the floor, millimeters away from Jack’s boot.

  Their eyes widened, and their brains couldn’t formute the ricocheted bullet, as Jack’s entire body quivered from the gunshot. Pulling back both his boots, both he and Sean lowered their heads, lowering them enough for the crates to give them cover.

  Pressing themselves on the wooden crates, they began taking out their guns.

  (Sean) Talk about luck.

  (Jack) If I hadn’t gnced at that box, you would’ve been dead…

  (Sean) Thank you for that…

  Popping half his head out, his eyes took a gnce from where the bullet shot from. Tracing the scene of gunsmoke coming from a sniper rifle, Sean pulled his head down. Rubbing the back of his head onto the crate, his temples drew sweat, trailing down toward his jawline.

  (Jack) Who is it?

  (Sean) Rimy. It appears she wants to settle the score with you.

  Wielding his sniper rifle, his fingers tried to dig into the metal, but only creaking and rattling were present. Clenching down his jaws, he had his finger on the side of the gun, whilst his breath hardened the more he pressed his bottom firm on the ground.

  Wielding his Thompson, Sean had already set his finger on it, but there was one problem…

  If he needed to create a diversion, he would have to look at a given wall to activate his blessing. And because Rimy was keeping an eye on their heads, trying to stare at a wall to perform his blessing would be suicide.

  (Sean’s thoughts) And I can’t just pop my head out for who knows how long.

  Clenching his jaws shut, Sean turned his head toward Jack, whose body continued to shiver. Seeing him in that state, Sean pushed his right lip up, followed by the butt of his gun pressing form on the metallic floor.

  (Sean) How good are you in a 1v1?

  (Jack) Average why?

  (Sean) I’m going to try to unlock the vault, while you deal with her.

  Jack stopped his shivering. Raising his right eyebrow, Jack gulped down a load of saliva down his throat, letting it moisten his parched throat and stomach. Swaying his head softly, he stared at one of the wooden crates in front of him.

  (Jack) You’re going to get shot.

  (Sean) That’s if you could try to get her off my ass. Hey, I’m the one that’s going to be shot at the most.

  Jack turned his eagle-like eyes to Sean’s green eyes.

  Noticing a fire within them, Jack pced the butt of his sniper rifle on the floor, his fingers loosened from the gun. Inhaling an influx of dry air into his lungs, he settled it inside his lungs before pushing it all out.

  (Jack) Fine, but don’t cry when you get shot.

  (Sean) You’d probably cry when you’re close to getting shot.

  (Jack) Whatever.

  Closing his eyes, Sean bulged all the muscles within his legs, pushing his strength onto the tips of his toes. His hair was barely covered by the wooden crate, Sean had his other hand along the side of the crate, while his main hand wielded his thompson.

  With the push of just his feet, he sprung out of cover.

  Her finger dead set on the trigger, Rimy only needed a small push, a push to smolder out the elf’s life…

  But a gleam of metal, like a light, shone to her upper eyelids.

  Pcing her head back into cover, a piercing shot traversed the metal confines of the train cart. Shaking and jotting every single piece of wall within the compartment, it also rang immensely into her hardened eardrums.

  (Rimy’s thoughts) Those bastards!

  Reaching the vault, Sean pced the bell of the stethoscope near the combination locker, using his left hand to hold the instrument in pce. With his right, he began turning the lock, ignoring the gunfight ensuing from behind.

  Noticing the elf hadn’t gotten shot, Rimy clenched down both of her jaws, spewing out sparks amongst her chipped teeth. Her cheeks flushing a deep red, she moved the barrel of her sniper to the side of her cover.

  Noticing a glint of metal appearing from the side, Jack’s eyes widened.

  (Jack’s thoughts) Shit! I can’t get a good view of her!

  Reloading in another bullet, her finger on the trigger, and the elf all too focused on turning the lock … it was all too perfect. The crosshairs were all drawn to the right side of his temple, her foot tapped on the floor once, before pulling the firing mechanism.

  Launching straight toward the elf—

  It hit a small flying wooden crate.

  Right before she fired, Jack forced all of his strength onto the tips of his toes, against a square wooden box. The dimensions being just a simple foot, Jack was lucky enough for nothing to be in it, the wood being light yet firm enough to withstand the kick.

  Spttering into a million pieces, the bullet drastically slowed down, leading it to just roll toward the edges of Sean’s boots.

  (Rimy’s thoughts) That does it!

  Tucking her head beneath the crate, she began reloading, clocking in the extra bullet into the chamber. Unable to even stick out her head, she pressed her fingers firmly on the metal of her gun, her eyes straining a crimson red.

  Meanwhile, Jack decided to move up a row. Taking cover behind another set of crates, he had his finger already on the trigger, the back of his head pushed on the wood.

  Clicking his tongue, he couldn’t also stick his head out, in the hope that Rimy didn’t have her sights on him.

  (Jack’s thoughts) From my previous fight with her, I won when we had barely any cover to press on. How do I get her to fight in the open?

  Using his left hand, he smeared his sweat-drenched face with his sweaty palm. Hearing the sounds of his heart beating on his chest, Jack gave himself a little sp on the cheek, causing him to jolt himself up.

  Breathing out with empty lungs, most of his dry air brushed against his upper lip, parching and crusting it.

  Spinning his body, he poked his head out from cover, along with the frame of the sniper holding firm on the crate.

  (Jack’s thoughts) Good thing she remained immobile, now how do I—

  A gunshot thundered the train cart.

  (Jack) a-AH!!

  Letting go of his rifle, he clutched his right hand over his left shoulder, his palm feeling the course of a warm sticky liquid moistening his hand. Knowing it’s blood, Jack squeezed his eyes and grinded his teeth, while curling himself up like a ball.

  His ears were unable to perk up from the pain, they couldn’t register the sounds of footsteps drawing toward him.

  As well as head was unable to tilt up, nor his eyes, none of it couldn’t gaze upon the silver-haired agent wielding his rifle. A trail of smoke rose from the barrel, Eren had it pinned onto Jack, the gun’s crosshairs tched onto his stomach.

  (Agent Eren) Look what you made me do…

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Kalemonath 23, 53 / 4:01PM)

  12 years ago.

  The city of Lagefor stood tall amongst the hills.

  Cars and pedestrians went along their way, as one man walked through the busy sidewalks. Gazing up, he saw the many construction workers sving away, doubling the height of many of the downtown buildings.

  From his looks, he had his hair wrapped in a man bun, followed by his hair pitched in a shade of bck. Wearing a tuxedo suit and bck scks, he carried a cigar with just the two of his fingers.

  Stopping along his trail, he gnced to the alley on his right.

  (???) Hey you, stick your hands up.

  The spartan-looking man pced his hands up in the air. Scoffing out a cold breath from his lungs, he swayed his head repeatedly like a disappointed father.

  (Spartan Gabriel) Today isn’t your lucky day son.

  (???) I ain’t tell you again! This is a robbery, so keep quiet!

  Tilting his head to the right, Gabriel pushed his right lip up to form a smirk, his eyes staring at a lone teenager wielding a slingshot.

  The teenager was tall and slim, his clothes ripped and torn. His skin was pstered in mud and dirt, and his long, tangled, knotted hair reached his upper back.

  But the spartan’s eyes widened at the teen’s silver hair; as well as the slingshot he gripped steadily.

  (Spartan Gabriel) You look pretty unique compared to other homeless people. Also, where did you get that slingshot?

  (Eren) Stop questioning!

  (Spartan Gabriel) Feel kind of sorry for you, thinking that slingshots would intimidate a man.

  The teen pulled back on the rubber band.

  On the verge of splitting in half, the fingers holding the rubber had formed blisters along his tips. Combined with the palm he held with hardened calluses, the teen…

  Knew how to shoot.

  (Spartan Gabriel) You look like a natural shooter. Your stance, aim, and even your breath are excellent.

  (Eren) What are you…?

  (Spartan Gabriel) Such a shame you’re just robbing people for food and survival … oh what a cruel world it is for you …

  The wood of the slingshot began to crack. His entire body began to shake and tremble, the teen quivered his lips the more he stared at the spartan.

  Lowering both of his hands, he had them motionless to his sides, while turning his body to fully face the wide-eyed teen.

  Plunging his left hand inside his tuxedo suit, he stared at the teen, keeping his eyes pinned on the boy’s fingers. Seeing he didn’t let go, Gabriel pulled out the object within his suit, which finally…

  Let the teen slingshot the BB gun pellet.

  The pellet soaring in the air, Gabriel arched his back, causing the pellet to sm into the building’s walls. Creating a cracked dent that took the shape of a bullet, Gabriel’s right lip pushed up to the bottom of his ear.

  (Spartan Gabriel) You do show mercy, even if you see this.

  He held a desert eagle handgun.

  His finger on the side, he looked at the carvings entrenched amongst the metal, his mouth slightly open for air to soar in. Tilting his eyes toward the teen, he already dropped his slingshot, the wooden weapon falling ft on the floor.

  The teen’s eyes widened, and he slowly began to walk back, his feet on the verge of letting his body crumble downward.

  (Spartan Gabriel) Take it.

  The teen stopped. Listening to the man’s cold command, he felt his entire body try to squeeze into his stomach and lungs. Wheezing, the old teen swayed his head back and forth, his teeth cttering endlessly and relentlessly.

  His knees buckled, even a gust of wind was enough to throw him back. Gabriel extended his hand out, the desert eagle halfway to both his and the teen’s body.

  (Eren) A-A-Are you giving it to me?

  (Spartan Gabriel) For a challenge, I would say.

  (Eren) W-With what?

  (Spartan Gabriel) Just take it.

  The teen took the handgun without question, having his palm wrap around the white metalled grip. His pointer finger scratched the hard chrome surface, with only the tip of his nails scraping off, leaving the metal to be dented without a scratch.

  Gabriel took a step back and spread out his arms, his fingers and knuckles free from any weapon or gun. Having his back against the wall, he tilted his head up while the teen furrowed his brow.

  (Spartan Gabriel) Do you see yourself as a soldier?

  (Eren) Me?

  (Spartan Gabriel) If you want to know, then the easiest answer would be to test it. As for the test…

  Gabriel nudged his back against the stone wall, mingling the stains of mud and dirt along the surface of his suit. Pushing his other lip up, both corners of his lips were right underneath the tips of his ears, making his face seem as if he was deranged.

  Which caused the teen to pale his face.

  (Spartan Gabriel) Try to shoot me.

  The command tightened the teen’s body.

  Nothing like this has ever occurred to him, causing the teen to look down onto the stone pavement. Shooting? Robbing? He did it only for survival's sake.

  Balling his other hand, his knuckles creaked the more he had the barrel pointed to the floor. Slowly, he pushed the desert eagle to have the end of it pointing to Gabriel, who continued to have his widened smile.

  (Spartan Gabriel) Once you sow a thought or action, you better hone it as a habit.

  (Eren) What does that mean?

  (Spartan Gabriel) Pull the trigger.

  Gabriel snted his eyes to the top of his nose, leading the teen to take a single step back. Gulping down whatever saliva was situated between his enamels, he slept his finger on the metal mechanism. The tip of his finger just a millimeter from kissing the trigger, his breath hardened the more he stared at the man’s gre.

  Killing a man. Can he follow through with those orders?

  Closing his eyes, he opened his mouth to unleash the st flow of air from his lungs. Making them empty, silence bred into his quiet eardrums, with the loudest sound trickling him was his mouse-like heart.

  Following through, he pulled the trigger.

  Rippling the air by just one bullet, the teen opened his eyes. Seeing the man gone, he looked around his left and right to notice he—

  (Spartan Gabriel) Well done! You are a natural!

  The teen spun his body to gnce at the same man in back of him.

  Dropping the desert eagle onto the floor, his knees buckled, freezing the soles of his feet to the stone ground. Watching the spartan pat his shoulder, his devilish smile faded, fading away to be repced by a more gentler one.

  (Spartan Gabriel) I don’t want to let your talents go to waste, so I’m ordering you to come with me for the time being. Also, what is your name?

  (Eren) Eren … just Eren.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  Since his gun was automatic, he didn’t need to manually reload another bullet in.

  Seeing Jack groveling in pain, Eren averted his eyes away, as his finger moved to the side of the gun. Pressing the assault sniper rifle onto his shoulder, Eren wrinkled his cheeks the longer he stared at the groveling Jack.

  (Eren) Come on, let me take you in.

  (Sean) Nuh-uh.

  Eren gnced at the Thompson pointed toward him.

  Knowing it was Sean, Eren kept the soles of his heels glued to the floor, his fingers still lying firm along his weapon. Clicking his tongue, Eren slowly turned his body and head to Sean, tilted his head up.

  (Eren) Put the gun down.

  (Sean) This is for my safety.

  (Eren) Or else that dy over there shoots you dead.

  Sean gnced to the other end of the train cart, seeing the metal barrel of Rimy’s sniper gleaming in the evening sunlight. Tapping his right foot on the floor, Sean looked both at Rimy and Sean repeatedly, followed by his finger scratching the side of the gun.

  Rimy had her finger on the trigger, with Sean’s head just nestling on the crosshairs of her scope. Because Eren had coverage, he started to lower the barrel of his rifle to the ground, wielding it with two of his hands.

  (Eren) Once again. Put the weapon down, before you get shot.

  Sean took one st look at the groveling Jack, noticing he had balled his entire body up like an armadillo. Ceasing his tapping, Sean pced his entire back against the vault, the butt of his Thompson cresting on the metal.

  (Sean) I just want to hear something out of you.

  (Eren) And what will it be?

  (Sean) Do you think Luke did anything wrong? Before the military tribunal?

  Keeping his finger off the mechanism, Eren lowered the barrel of his gun toward Sean’s boots, but he kept his eyes focused on him. A gruff groan trembling his vocals, Eren began tapping his finger on the side of the rifle, while his ears took in the cshing of metal from underneath his feet.

  After a long silence, the sound of metal was soon overridden by Eren’s voice.

  (Eren) You know he’s a sinner.

  (Sean) But do you believe what the government says?

  His guns started to shake.

  Clenching both of his teeth shut, the crevices of his eyes formed a gre, leading Sean to lower the barrel of his Thompson. Having it point to the tips of Eren’s church shoes, Sean gulped down whatever saliva stuck to his gums.

  (Eren) I don’t follow the government…

  (Sean) Well, then why do you work for them?

  (Eren) It was my only choice. And that’s none of your concern.

  He pced his finger on the trigger. Instead of caressing it, he had it hover over the iron, but he took one step forward to Sean.

  Slowly, he raised the barrel, making Sean gleam out a trickle of sweat from his left temple. Watching Eren intently, the metal which he pced his back against felt as if it was trying to swallow him whole.

  (Eren) Put the gun down, now.

  (Sean) … This is for my safety.

  (Eren) sighs …

  Now kissing the trigger with his sweaty finger, Eren squeezed out any air from his pink lungs, sending his breath to parch his lips. Taking in the ft-lined lip Sean who only stared at him back, his eyes darkened, and his cheeks pushed down.

  A couple of bullets thundered the room.

  Letting go of his darkened eyes, he startled and jumped from the outside noise. Pinning his attention to his right, he saw Rimy crouching down on the floor, her rifle lying ft on the surface.

  Both of her hands clutched her stomach, her yellowish-white teeth in full dispy.

  A pool of blood flowed out from her stomach, leading Eren to grit the back ends of his mors, while looking upon both Sean and Rimy. His breathing fastened, he heard his heartbeat ring along the insides of his ears, his breath freezing his throat.

  (Eren) W-Who did that?!

  Lowering his rifle onto his hip, he had the barrel sway left and right, his eyes analyzing the interior walls of the cart. But he didn’t expect the shot from…

  (Jumbo) For an agent, you’re not smart.

  A bunny-human stood in between the second and third train carts.

  His hands wielding a Thompson machine gun, he wrinkled his eyes while having a small cigar attached to his lips. Smoke piling out from the wooden nicotine stick as well as the tip of his gun, Jumbo nudged his head up, while wearing tinted sungsses.

  (Sean) What the … I forgot about you.

  (Jumbo) Just because I fall asleep gives you the assumption I could be forgotten?

  (Sean) Yes.

  A hard sigh brushed out of his lips, plowing out stuck-up air which dwindled the insides of his lungs. Having his finger deadset on the trigger, he moved the barrel toward the silver-haired agent, his right eye closed and left eye wrinkled.

  Eren quickly aimed at the bunny-human, his frown parching down to the upper edge of his jawline. Ignoring the silent Jack and nonchant Sean, Eren kept his empty lungs scourged of air, his cheeks flushing red from ck of oxygen.

  (Eren) Take the shot.

  (Jumbo) Do you want me to shoot you? Seems pretty emo, but ok.

  By just holding down on the metal mechanism, a rain of bullets stormed out of the small circur-shaped barrel. The bullets, directed at none other than Eren, jumped to the right, barely dodging the bullets in time as one or two scraped his suit.

  Still clutching his rifle firm, Eren pressed down on the trigger. Widening his eyes, Jumbo barely pced his back firm along the metal wall, his right ear feeling the microburst of bullets. His front teeth cttered down onto his bottom, his bottom teeth chipped off more than his front.

  Because bunny-humans have strong upper teeth, it’s in their blood.

  (Jumbo’s thoughts) Talk about a difference in skill!

  Letting go of the trigger, Eren lunged toward where Rimy was, his body smming hard on the metallic floor. Seeing her jacket beginning to stain with red, Eren pced his left hand onto the wound, his fingers trailing the outer yers of it.

  Gripping his assault sniper rifle with his right, he kept his body low beneath the crates, the tip of his fedora barely standing out.

  His palm stained red, he dragged Rimy’s wounded body toward him.

  (Eren) Just remain here. I’ll handle the two of them.

  Closing his eyes, the sounds of the train’s wheels cshing beneath him ceased, as if he removed the sounds from his brain. Hearing nothing, the only thing his eardrums took in were his quiet breath, his slow heart, and his licking lips.

  On instinct, Eren kissed the metallic trigger with his finger, whilst having the rifle touch his chest. Breathing in and out one st time, the st plow of dry air reached down to his chin; as he jumped out of cover.

  (Eren’s thoughts) Fortuitous Lead.

  Without opening his eyes, he shot two times.

  And in the gap between the two shots, he felt every ripple of the recoil down to his bones. The chamber, the grip, even the barrel; Eren felt everything as if the gun was his body part.

  Opening his eyes, he took in…

  Both Jumbo and Sean y ft on the floor, their hands lowered to their stomachs.