"What did you guys talk about?"
"None of your business Crane."
"Come on Kyle, you trusted me with secrets before." The blonde took off, Crane after him. "Hey where are you going?"
"I'm gonna sit in front of the tower between zombies until you figure out something you want to do and stop bugging me!" The boy yelled with a smirk, hopping down the ledge and indeed rushing out of the tower to sit in the street. However he came to a stop before the stairs noticing a nervous man right by the tower holding cleaning products. 'Nope, not gonna go see if I can help.' But after a few minutes, he found himself helping the guy anyway as Crane had walked out, the blonde walking over the adult following him as usual unknown to them having earned the nick name 'Crane's brat' throughout the entire tower coupled with his attitude. Crane, the ever helpful guy had approached the other man lighting up as he explained that he was about to be promoted only a few deliveries away from it. And as usual the older Kyle agreed to help with the smaller one right behind him as they headed off with the man named Faruk Korkmaz in the lead happy to have found an escort and slightly questioning why a kid was part of it. Usually kids stayed in safe zones.
"Here is a sample! This territory is exhausted, let's move on." For being a salesman, Faruk handled his blade well not that he really a got cent of fighting through Kyle and Crane with him.
'I can't tell if clinging to his old job is better or worse for this guy…'
"These are lousy leads. We need new customers." After few minutes they arrived at the first stop with no one there as the tattered door didn't open, Faruk leaving it at the door. The next stop had again no one there to receive it with Faruk leaving it at the door again, the escort fairly uneventful so far with Faruk's commentary offering some entertainment. "Sometimes they start shooting at me. We should get going."
"I wonder why." Kyle quietly quipped to himself.
"You know I usually feel good about helping people." Crane remarked.
'Me too.'
"What are you, the Peace Corps?" Faruk questioned, the trio heading to the next stop which held a nasty ambush surprise as Faruk got a bullet to the shoulder after a 'You see that?', their eyes darting to the corner of a building to the right, one of Rais men behind two crates with a gun. Crane pulled out his own, Faruk not even ducking prompting Kyle to tackle him down and retaliate with his hand gun, the thug's eyes widening stumbling back.
"It's that kid!" The man didn't get to say much more nor did he last long being shot at by two guns, Crane and Kyle unscathed by bullets as Faruk demanded to be let up to finish the delivery. Kyle yielded to the grumbling man finishing the delivery, Crane giving Kyle a questioning look for being recognized.
"How should I know? Maybe others besides the tower saw that broadcast too. Like you say, I stick out like a sore thumb once somebody sees me, I'm hard to just overlook in the street." The trio headed back to the tower, Faruk stopping by the rubble and ledge turning to them.
"Thank you, Sir. You're now an honorary employee of the Zerp Chemical Company. Congratulations."
"Uh… Thanks."
"Here is your payment. Good luck to you, but stay out my territory. If I catch you poaching my customers, I'll shoot you. Goodbye."
"Hey Crane, I'm going on to go track down my business partners." 'We killed everyone by that dynamite so it must've been the Rocket guy that talked about me. Great, becoming famous the last thing I want. But maybe those two got in trouble, I have to make sure they're okay.'
"Sure, I'll come along. Give me a second to grab a big bag; there is a stash I wanna get to as well."
Kyle sighed but didn't protest. "Fine, come along." Kyle lead the way, Crane unable to discern a pattern and the blonde seemed a little frustrated after a while, the two stopping by one of the stashes Osman told Crane about, the agent sliding in the key and helping himself to the rewards within.
"Think they're in trouble?" 'This is getting heavy, they really took a chunk out of Rais.'
"Maybe." Kyle stopped, nothing notable popping out to Crane between the slum houses but apparently it meant something to Kyle leaving a note covered with a scrap of cloth stuffed in a crack in the wall making it look completely inconspicuous, a plastic shard the final touch with the scratched in 'K' hidden out of sight. "Wanna get that back to the tower?"
"You're sure you're done looking?"
"Yeah, I'll know if they're fine or not."
Maybe he should stop approaching everyone he saw especially when it looked like this, the loot placed at the tower and back on the street to bump into this, Kyle behind him with a can of carrot pieces. "What the hell are you doing here? What's with all the carnage?"
"Are you serious? Don't you know who I am?!"
"Uh… no. Should I?"
"OF COURSE YOU SHOULD! I've turned killing zombies into an art form! I'm El Jefe. El Jefe the Zombie Killer! I KNOW you've heard of me."
"Sheesh Crane how can you not know El Jefe the Zombie Killer?" Kyle chided, Crane glanced back at the boy trying once again to be an annoying unlikable prick.
"Hey I can tell you're sarcastic right now, you don't know him either!"
"Hold on, hold on. I've got an idea. You want to challenge me, right? Prove who's the better slayer of zombies? Let's who can kill the most zombies by dismemberment! Watch 'em bleed out!" Crane glanced to Kyle still on his can giving little wave mouthing 'have fun' and the man turned back to Jeffrey.
"I'd hate to see the trophy for this."
"What are you thinking about?" Brecken asked walking over to Rahim deep in thought.
"I can't stop thinking about that a kid, like Kyle is apparently unknown here in Harran. But I think I do remember somebody mention seeing a man with him months ago probably a solo survivor. But it's kind of turned more into a rumor if he's really been seen over time."
"I see your point, it's strange. Being blonde and with those green eyes and the claws he wears, he's not someone easy to forget."
"Think Crane can really do it? Make him stay?"
"I hope he can for the kid's sake. Just isn't right for a kid to be scrounging around out there on their own trying to survive. Even when said kid has the perk of being ignored by zombies."
"Well, 'El Jefe the Zombie Killer.' Guess you've still got some work to do huh?"
"You reek."
"Glad to see you too Kyle, missed you dearly." Finished with the can, Kyle's eyes sparkled as Crane got a cash reward.
"Wait, wait, wait there is a reward?! I wanna do a challenge!"
"You can knock yourself out kid I've just got an even better challenge in mind! You see those spikes? I've started using them to kill zombies! Just shove 'em right in there! It's a total rush!"
"Ugh… Jesus. Is this another situation where you would pay me and this time the kid too?" Crane doubted he could tell Kyle now, his face clearly conveyed he had made up his mind. Although he didn't seem excited about the zombie onslaught but the cash beckoned enough as it did for Crane.
"Yes, yes, I'll pay, don't worry. But it's so much fun, you SHOULD be paying ME! I mean, have you ever charged into them? Just ram into them and they go flying like bowling pins! You gotta try it!"
"Eccchh… yeah, it worked. That'll be a great ice-breaker at parties." Crane sighed but the two accepted the challenge just outside the fence nevertheless. "More zombie guts. Fantastic." Jeffrey watched from the fence timing then, the number to shove fifteen noticing just how easy Kyle had it though they still tried to lash out at him the short moment he collided, the blonde always near Crane keeping his back safe. The two made it climbing back in, Jeffrey back under his little roof.
"You know maybe this wasn't so great… even with money…" Kyle remarked covered in some guts and blood as the boy had used his whole body twice in a pinch to slam since he didn't exactly want to show off super strength in front Jeffrey. One of the two he bumped just had to have a ripped open gross front with his luck.
"Hey Kyle, you reek."
"Shut up Crane."
"Okay, we did it. Fork over the money."
"Don't worry I got two bats in case your kid wants to join again." Crane just a for a second wondered how it had happened and just how fast Jeffrey came up with disturbing ideas which he had plenty of time for. Kyle had wanted to take a dip in nearby water but forgotten a knife back at the safe zone that he had used on the can previously forgetting to pocket it hence why they were back already which made Jeffrey very happy. Commenting that he'd hear crunching bones in his dreams, Crane took a bat, Kyle following suite showing his scaling disturbance at the man's thoughts with facial expression but it wasn't disturbing enough yet as the promise of pay persuaded both.
The two came back with bloodied bats, Crane already seeing it on Jeffrey's face that look it got when he had come up with something else. "Oh for fuck's sake. Hola, El Jefe we're back."
"I took your advice! Let's go for heads now! It'll be fun! Awesome, right? Right?"
'That one isn't even disturbing, it's just efficient…' Kyle remarked to himself though his expression didn't change to reflect the slightly relieved thoughts.
"FINE. You don't have to say the words, I can tell just from the look on your face. YES, yes, I'll pay you for each head."
"Yeah, I'm going to hell… Crane sighed picking up the blade, Kyle accommodated again as there were two.
"Guys! Guys! It's a pity I didn't come up with this earlier, I just had the best idea EVER! Ready for it? Cutting in half! Or splitting in half, same thing! Got an axe ready right here but that's not all. Your challenge is cutting zombies in half." His gaze shifted to Kyle. "But yours is to rip out hearts! You see, I got thinking about those claws of yours and thought how they could be fun in a challenge and then it hit me! I think this is my best idea yet!" Kyle's eyes twitched, Crane highly disturbed as well and for moment both thought they'd walk away only to let themselves be persuaded by usual followed action of getting paid vowing that this one would be their last. Jeffrey expected ten zombies from Kyle and thirty from Crane in the given time, the challenge by nearby train carts.
"God… my life has gone so far off the rails…"
"Ah, c'mon, you can't tell me you don't love it! I don't believe that for a second! Kid is so happy it took the words right out of him!"
"Let's just get on with it." 'That's the last time we're doing this, I don't care how much money this guy has to offer.'
Kyle just stared at the first one for a moment, bits of surrounding gut on the heart, Crane using fire crackers to his aid and worrying glancing to Kyle springing back into action managing to rip out the next heart, the challenge not so easy as the zombies lashed out when the claws dug in negating the perk of being ignored while the blonde was careful not to use more strength than one gave credit for, the line thin with the whole ordeal. The dip in the water was ruined too as blood and guts started covering them again.
"Alright give me the money. And this time I mean it- I don't want to see you again. EVER." 'I hope Kyle isn't emotionally stunted from all this now, I'd feel better if he'd give some snarky comments right now instead of silence.'
"You know what I just realized? This town is only big enough for ONE Master Zombie Killer! And that Master Zombie Killer is ME!" Crane's hand had already wandered to the longer blade he carried at 'big enough for one' realizing where this was going, quick glance to Kyle making no move to jump in before Crane cut down Jeffrey with a fatally aimed slash managing to be faster than the self-proclaimed Master Zombie Killer.
"Hey, there's a broadcast!"
"Better not be bad news…" All eyes in the tower flocked to working TVs however the broadcast didn't contain any news of any kind but a recorded video being played. Showcasing none other than the two famous Kyle's of the tower bickering and name calling each other like children now in front of all of Harran. Within their fierce and harsh words, an unmistakable bond showed and anyone having assumed them to be father and son before only chuckled a little bit more as the entire tower got amused laughing their butts off at the duo.
Somewhere else in another tower, the same happened to the inhabitants having a great time with the broadcast rolling in amusement. If Crane wasn't famous before, he was now and Kyle junior had the spotlight right with him. Rais smiled at what he saw, thoughts twisting into sick little whispers Karim noticing the man's smile sending a shudder down his spine noting this one was slightly different than others with something new in it but couldn't tell what. "That's the kid at the lake!" Rocket pointed to the screen with a shout.
"Didn't know that guy had a brat…" One of the men commented.
"Probably not his just picked up a stray. I hear he's the kind of guy to do that."
"What's going on in here?" Crane asked rather to himself, the sun steadily going down, Kyle's eyes soon to glow having only minutes to spare as the two headed inside finding Brecken upon hearing him chuckle with others in a room only to find themselves behind the screen being laughed at by the tower amused at their quarrel.
"What the hell?!" Kyle said for them both, eyes narrowing with a growl. "Must have been someone at the bazaar. "Without another word or before Crane could grab his arm, the blonde rushed off to disappear into the night, Crane stuck on what to do for a second as he didn't carry the ease to walk around at night like the boy did. But he had a bad feeling he'd get himself in trouble.
"I have to go after him."
"Doesn't he get ignored? Crane that's crazy for you to go now, it's getting dark even though you're a good runner." Rahim pointed out.
"And he has a horrible temper and he's a boy with a lot of hurt feelings he's trying to hide! I can't just leave him alone to do reckless things!" Crane pointed out, the whole room smirking and smiling at him.
"Okay, secret dad. But be careful." Brecken chuckled and while he wasn't happy at the idea if anyone could jump from safe zone to safe zone and make it to bazaar to go after the kid it was Crane.
"I'm not his dad…"
"Totally" One of the men chuckled. Crane just rolled his eyes arming a bag with firecrackers and a UV flashlight to jump into the night betting on getting lucky.
Gerritsen smiled to herself at the little exhausting vengeance trip, the breeze brushing her face atop the safety of the high antenna watching the night sky before bundling up in the bedroll, her belongings in a bigger duffle bag and backpack beside her as the girl didn't plan to go back to the bazaar in the morning but head to the tower instead.
Kyle cautiously snuck around, green eyes glowing into the night able to give anyone glimpsing the eerie bright gaze a little scare. The blonde crawled around the bazaar carefully focusing to sneak to Gerritsen's hut to ask her if she knew anything as he didn't want to talk to anybody else. However the girl didn't seem to be at the bazaar not even coming out when throwing a rock at the hut's roof disrupting everyone's sleep and worrying guards quickly casting their flashlights nearby.
"Fuck…" Crane sighed leaning against the wall of the little shack in the safe zone, unable to reach the bazaar having slid in here just in time not even far from the tower as with his luck a group of volatiles had gotten on his ass real fast and just had to have a crowd of zombies nearby as well.
"Hey have you seen Gerritsen?" Kyle's eyes had just stopped glowing a moment before rushing into the bazaar walking straight to Dahlia the self-proclaimed witch.
"Oh, you ask me?"
"No, there is a guy named Bob behind you." Kyle sarcastically quipped.
"Gerritsen is the girl that likes you, isn't she?"
"She doesn't- fine, whatever, yeah the one that apparently likes me. Where is she?"
"Can't say I know but she did leave the bazaar yesterday with all her things. Is this about the phone she was holding? You kids are so peculiar about those things."
"She held a phone?..." It was rather a question to himself as thoughts formed a sneaking suspicion on yesterday's phenomena putting him in the spotlight with Crane. He had never been there himself but despite having kept to himself past those incidents he did try to know a little of what was going on and where everything was leading his thoughts to the antenna. Maybe he was wrong but if she wasn't there, he was certain she'd try getting to the tower because Jade was there. Kyle left without another word heading out, running for the antenna.
"Talked to her a while ago then left in a rush." Volcan pointed nudged his thumb to Dahlia. "It's Crane right? Crane the big shot? Crane the superstar? You know what I think? I think Brecken blows your skills way out of proportion."
"You want something pal?"
"Yes. It drives me up the wall that people consider you to be the best runner in the tower. It's always been me, Volcan. Let's settle this once and for all. Show me what you've got Crane. Prove you're faster than I am. Unless you're scared. Are you?"
"I really don't have time for this…"
"So you are."
"I've got nothing to prove but fine, let's do it." 'Maybe I can use this to bump into Kyle anyway and since he's left here already he might be heading back to the tower to safety anyway. If I'm lucky he'll be back in a bit and maybe even talk to that Ahmet guy, at least it'll keep him busy. I still don't know what they talked about…'
Gerritsen further crawled into the corner trying to hide herself, eyes straying again to the freshly broken leg. Talk about a failed run. No bones stuck out but it was definitely broken, the girl having dumped some found alcohol on it before taking a sip herself with her face scrunching up in hopes of dulling the pain without getting drunk. The infected drew closer and closer, Gerritsen cornered and in no shape to survive, calling out for help in a desperate attempt knowing it would only urge the zombies faster.
Kyle skidded to a stop, hearing Gerritsen call from the shack, eyes narrowing at the demolisher dragging in with plenty of biters and three virals swarming the shed already. Kyle charged at the demolisher first tackling into the guy mercilessly from the side, the zombie falling over slamming into the ground while Kyle's hand reached for a long pry bar scattered with the other tools. Before the demolisher could get up again, Kyle was already on top of him and slammed down the pry bar with the piercing end through the throat and all the way into the concrete ground bending the end still out into a hook with both hands effectively pinning the thrashing demolisher, the blonde panting pulling out the machete slashing away at the other zombies ignoring their reaper dealing every strike fatally. Gerritsen tensed up, the pipe steady in her hand as the shadow cast in, sighing in relief and overjoyed a second later to see Kyle step in leaning against the wall panting with a smile. "Looks like you owe me, I'll take a confession."
"Later, I promise." Gerritsen tried to get up only to crumble with wince grabbing her bag, Kyle quickly swooping under her arm beside her giving her support.
"Broken?"
"Yeah, pretty bad first run huh?"
"Could be worse, could've found you as a corpse." Kyle shrugged causing little smile from Gerritsen at the morbid joke in their terrible situation. The duo checked out the door still finding only the dead zombies, the stretch clear for now with a paved wide road ahead making travel easier as long as it didn't fill with zombies, the girl's eyes straying to the pinned demolisher widening at the short sight dragged along by the blonde doing his best not to hurt her as she tried not to step on her broken leg. The kids didn't make it far as five minutes after hobbling on the road, Kyle caught a bite meant for Gerritsen with his arm as they tripped, the boy beheading the zombie digging into his flesh showering them in blood. More and more zombies closed in forcing them off it and up stairs and into a house they barely struggled into with Kyle working as a crude shaky step ladder so Gerritsen could get onto the balcony biting her lip so she wouldn't scream out bumping her broken leg giving her hand to pull up Kyle afterwards almost grabbed by a zombie and dragged down. The two crawled inside closing the door shutting it, Gerritsen dragging herself against the wall to lean on it while Kyle pulled out bandages from his backpack.
"I thought they ignore you."
"They do unless I get hurt. Here, I found some more alcohol and some gauze, this will sting." Gerritsen nodded biting down a yelp as the liquid dripped on the bloody skin before Kyle put on the pause and wrapped in bandages taking care of his own arm afterwards with another. The door rattled from a slam but stayed sturdy in place making them both flinch, Kyle further rummaging through drawers and the fridge finding a water bottle. The kid cautiously sniffed finding nothing particular before taking a gulp only to spit it out, the taste stale and on the slightly gross side from the plastic. With a deep breath, Kyle took a quarter of the bottle pushing it down holding it out to Gerritsen. "It's not great but it won't kill you I think."
"We won't get anywhere further if I stay thirsty." Gerritsen sighed taking the water, another bang on the door causing them both to jump, Kyle protectively shuffling in front of the girl with machete out while Gerritsen held a knife, their situation dire.
"Hey, someone is becoming zombie chow." One of the thugs of four nodded to the house the infected swarmed, the zombies shoving each other off the balcony as they slowly climbed up only to be bumped down by another tumbling to the ground.
"That mob isn't that big but cornered like that they're screwed." Another chuckled. "Let's keep looking."
"Sure but if that kid is in there huh? We could be going right past the punk Rais wants."
"But when he was spotted by the tunnel there wasn't a corpse found."
"Whatever, let's just go in it's not that many zombies and whoever we find we clean out. And if it's the kid then we get lucky." The other three agreed charging at the small mob.
Gerritsen and Kyle glanced at each other, the zombie noise mixing with those of men attacking and the kids stayed tense ready to attack at any moment. The door cracked open after few minutes, the light a little blinding but the black and yellow revealed itself quickly enough. "No way, you were right! And he's got a girlfriend!" One of the four exclaimed.
"Come on kid, let's go. Don't make a fuss." Kyle eyed them they made it clear, he was the target and no matter what the reason was right now they could use the protection it'd give on the way to the garrison or rather for them as close as possible to the tower. Kyle dropped the attack stance, Gerritsen glancing at him with a questioning look as he got up to give her a hand only for a thug to protest.
"Oh no, no, no! A broken leg is a death sentence boy, she isn't coming!"
"If she isn't coming then I won't!" The blonde snarled.
"Whoo, kid is baring his fangs! Fine have it your way. But you know guys, I think I want to get to know her just before we leave her to die." The thug rushed forward, one in the back already having fiddled with a small bottle and cloth as the one charging forward grabbed his arm and took the machete, throwing the kid into the arms of another putting him into a choke hold, iron grip on the hand decked in metal claws and Kyle's teeth sank in faster than he had even thought about it digging mercilessly into the flesh painting the whole arm red and torn with how deeply it went. The man screamed letting go but passed him off to one outside on the balcony all too fast in the small space. The thug laughed steeping forward to Gerritsen trying to scoot back in vain glaring venomously at the man. The thug smirked, left arm pressed against Kyle's throat pinning him to the wall while the hand pinned the boy's left wrist with an iron grip stopping any clawing while the right hand of the man received the cloth careful not to have it close to his own face.
"Hey bitch, don't even think about biting or anything!"
Still exhausted with the taste of blood and flesh in his mouth with blood smearing his face, the boy's eyes tried to glance inside to a struggling Gerritsen the cloth coming closer before narrowing on the man again pinning him and the free right hand pulled back slamming into the attacker's gut. The other man on the balcony widened his eyes in horror and fear, the fist of the thirteen year old popping out in the back again with the splashing of blood and gut bits on the floor steadily forming a puddle of red underneath the man sputtering his last dying breath.
"Damn that monster isn't worth it!" The man screamed much to the confusion of the other two inside just about to tear off the girl's shirt glancing back to see their comrade miss a shot and suffer being kicked off the building for it, Kyle using the tiny wooden frame for clothes squished onto the platform for it so he didn't have to use enhanced strength, a biter quickly taking care of the fallen man screaming out in agony. His face sprayed with blood, Kyle stood in the doorway panting with his entire right arm coated red still dripping with it, the machete picked up slicing over a thug's throat before his machete could hit the boy but the fourth reacted fast with an elbow slammed into the boy's chest sending him stumbling back wheezing barely catching himself on the basket in the corner by the door too busy trying to breathe to fight back and the cruel man grinned for another blow but Gerritsen leapt up biting her lip bloody to push down a scream catching herself on the counter edge, hand rushing for a frying pan and slamming it down on the man's head. The girl didn't let up, first strike followed by another to the head of the crumbling man and Kyle stumbled forward finishing with a slash to the throat of the man on his knees trying to shield his head with his arms with the tips of the metal claws. The kids panted catching their breath leaving against the counter, machete slowly tucked back into its spot behind the backpack quickly wiped off with a towel lying around, the arm remained absolutely red and blood smear but no longer dripping.
"They didn't…"
"Made it in time…" Gerritsen, both standing there for a minute shuffling away from the pooling blood catching their breath.
"We have to move. You know, you're handy with a frying pan."
"You hold your own in the streets." Gerritsen complimented back. "You have all your stuff?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Yes." The two slowly climbed down, Gerritsen almost seeing the man with the hole in the gut but the urgency to move made her miss it, the two hobbling along a wide again for now as it was fairly clear currently and the house had two fire crackers in them.
"Hey Blake, did Kyle come back yet? The kid I brought in. He had already left the bazaar when I got there."
"No, haven't seen him." Crane didn't like that answer if Blake was here the whole time which he would be with it being his shift he should've seen him come in.
"Thanks, guess I'll go out looking for him a bit."
"Think he's in trouble?"
"I hope not but I don't think I'd be too surprised. Did a girl come in?"
"No, no one except you since you left in the morning actually."
'He should've made it back here before me, that girl too for that matter if she headed here unless something happened to her. After all, as far as I know she doesn't have the perk of being ignored like he does. I better look around.'
The last firecracker fizzed out, both pursued by infected again craving their flesh relentlessly catching up to the pair and they found themselves yet gain diving for hiding not far into the run. Or rather hobbling. This time the haven became an unlocked van, broken leg bumped again as they rushed in and Kyle slammed the doors shut just in time. The infected scratched and retched crawling around the van the one they hunted hid in. "Do you have radio of any sort?"
"No"
"Damn… Wait in here; don't come out until I tell you to."
"You're hurt yourself!" Gerritsen protested grabbing his wrist refusing to let go. "Maybe they'll leave if we just stay quiet long enough. I think they lose interest when they hear or see us."
"Alright, we'll try it." Kyle sat back down the two leaning against the back of the van in silence listening closely to the noises outside. After few minutes, the two leaned closer to the side, Kyle picking up on the noise first and Gerritsen following the motion out of curiosity, Fighting noise mixed with a few zombies, some seeming to have left with the fight fading quickly and few firecrackers keeping any approaching one busy. One door opened, the kids already armed with knives again, Kyle having pulled his out of his boot as a man stuck his head in.
"Poor kids, you look in terrible shape. I just checked over the front of this van, I can hotwire it so we can drive a little bit to my house, I'm sure you'd like to clean up and have some food. We'll talk more at my house; don't worry about anymore zombies coming after you." The man smile closing the door again, the kids glancing at each other. He didn't attack them and he didn't wear yellow and black like Rais men from what they could see. Food and a rest sounded great right now. Besides, another would hesitate to the jump the guy if started to seem fishy. The two decided to take a chance not that there really as time to get out, the van hot-wired quite fast rumbling into motion. More firecrackers hit Kyle's ears, the man in the front steering with one hand while throwing them out with the other out the window, a whole pile on the passenger seat.
"I don't even know where to look…" Crane sighed with growl kicking a can. It's like he had disappeared. Had he really left risking Crane telling about his massive crush on The Scorpion? Considering he claimed, they would never see him again after the week anyway, it didn't seem like it would bother him if it did come out.
"Hey I heard Kyle didn't come back, any luck yet?" Brecken's voice came to life over the radio.
"Not yet. I don't know Brecken, maybe he really left. I really thought I might've convinced him to stay after all…"
"And no one at the bazaar had any clue where he headed?" Rahim joined in on the radio.
"Nothing. Maybe I would've found him if I hadn't accepted Volcan's challenge."
The slums have a lot hiding places, don't blame yourself. Maybe he just made a detour; we'll let you know if he comes in." Brecken replied.
"I really hope you're right Brecken, thanks." 'Where the hell did you go kid?'
The van came to a stop, the man's face appearing in the door again revealing the rest of his body confirming he wasn't dressed like Rais' men. An inviting hand offered the kids help to get out, brown eyes of the man native to Harran quickly glanced around ready to throw firecrackers from a bag slung over the shoulder as the kids climbed out with their stuff. "It's not far. Take it at your pace; we have plenty of these little crackers for the rest of the way." The house came quickly into sight past some tightly packed together slum houses, the man's particular one a little bit bigger sitting a little bit higher more in the grass with a fenced in yard secured against zombies. With the firecrackers, the hobble had gone smoothly, the man quickly pulling out keys opening the gate and letting them in directing them to the front door holding it open for them. Despite the slightly bigger size, it was a still a slum house however it had the luxury of one level above ground. The front door led to crammed small kitchen with a table for two though one could squish in a third chair that the round shape allowed, counter, sink and stove against the wall net to fridge and small freezer mixed with sort of sitting room with couch behind it, bookcase and a TV. A slightly ajar door to the left revealed a small bathroom while stairs to the right lead to the upper level. "Sorry, it not very clean not really expecting visitor anymore. Although I have to admit this isn't my house, my actual house is in old town much nicer and more spacious than this."
"So why are you here?" Gerritsen raised an eyebrow the two males helping her upstairs as the adult led them there.
"Got pulled into the first aid fray and such during the outbreak when everyone was running back and forth and I ended up in the slums."
"So, you're a doctor?" Kyle asked.
"Well, title wise speaking not. Neurosurgeon specifically but they grabbed anyone in any medical profession. And here we go, this upstairs you two can have this room." The man opened the room with nothing particular about being a regular bedroom fitting to the overall small space of the house. "Now that looks like a broken leg. You get a little bit of everything before diving into specifics in the medical profession." Gerritsen sat down on the bed. "That's good first aid; I'll splint it to keep it straight. What's your names?"
"Gerritsen"
"Kyle" As the man splinted her leg, Kyle gazed around the room not much to it. "Do you have something I could radio call someone with?"
"Sorry I don't. Separated from your parents?"
"No."
"Leg, all done." His eyes shifted to Kyle, the bandage on the bitten arm red with blood.
"You got soap?"
"I'm guessing that's for the arm that looks like it's been stuck in a dead body. I'll get some from the bathroom in a moment, I'll fill the tub with water too, I'm sure you'd like to clean up. Now, let's have a look at that bandaged arm of yours." Kyle's eyes widened, having completely forgotten about it and Gerritsen had too as her mouth opened to say something feeling quite guilty but it never came out. Kyle had stumbled into motion past the man and planted his lips on her to stop her from talking with his finger between them in a sign to say nothing. While she didn't understand his behavior she trusted him, the two pulling apart with flushing faces as the blonde sat down next to her glancing away. "Well, you've had quite the morning it seems I'll leave you two to relax. By the way if either of you have been bitten, it's imperative you get antizin, I have three vials in the house. I'll heat up some food. The man closed the door behind him heading downstairs again, neither hearing the sliding lock on the other side having evaded their eyes on the way in being pushed into place. Waiting a minute, Gerritsen looked back to the boy again.
"What was that about?!" Despite her tone she kept her voice low. "You took a bite for me! You need that antizin!"
"I don't, keep it down." Kyle growled. "There are things you don't know about me."
"And that is?"
Kyle sighed, glancing again before looking her in the eye with those green eyes. "I was bitten months ago and I didn't turn without a single drop of antizin. I won't turn."
"That's insane, no one doesn't turn!"
"Gerritsen, just trust me. Fine, look at this." Kyle pulled up his shirt, loosening the slightly speckled bandages so he could pull them up a bit. "See, that's the bite from my mom. It never really healed and I never turned. Please, you have to keep quiet about it. I don't know what would happen. All I know is that I didn't turn yet and my gut says I never will. Please… I know it's a lot to ask… just trust me on that alright…" His gaze went to the floor lifting again tightening the bandaged pulling down his shirt again as Gerritsen's hand rested on his shoulder.
"Alright. But if your gut suddenly changes you have to let me know so I can bash your head in before I'm eaten."
"Deal."
The knife had paused cutting the orange gone behind the house, the soup boiling on the stove as lips pulled into a grin and eyes widening glancing down to the speaker. 'I can't believe it… If it's true… my boy… finally we might have found what will save you! I was going to take the girl first but now it'll be the boy.'
"So, I want my confession now. We got a breather."
"Fine, you caught me. Used the last bit of battery on my phone for it, climbing that antenna was exhausting."
"Good, serves you right. Crane and I are the laughing stock of the tower now thanks to you. So you're a technical genius?"
"No just picked up a few things from my dad."
Crane never thought he be craving to hear some snarky remark from the kid suddenly showing up behind him. 'I need to think this through. They both left the bazaar and last night there was the broadcast that only someone there was able to film. Even if it was her that still doesn't help in knowing where they are!'
"This is a big bedroom for a slum house…" Gerritsen remarked rather bored leaning back on the bed enjoying not to be limping along right now.
"Yeah, I swear thinking back on it downstairs looked quite smaller…" Kyle replied leaning back as well eyes narrowing on the floor. It was barely noticeable but there was the thinnest outline on the floor outlining a rectangular section, just looking at the lines straining one's eye from how weak they were. 'Cat's don't make rectangles…'
"Is the floor special?"
"Maybe… check the mattress."
"Hoping for free money?" The girl raised an eyebrow, having heard of the old trick. Their heads turned to the door opening, Kyle standing up from having crouched on the floor an sitting down on the bed as the man came into with a tray with two bowls of soup, water glasses and orange slices beside the, Gerritsen shoving the piece of paper under the blanket that her hand had closed around on for now Kyle catching glimpse of it glad the girl hid it relieved to see that the man didn't seem to have noticed. "Thank you so much, it smells great."
"Well I sure hope so, not the best cook." The man chuckled.
Kyle took a spoonful coiling back having only taken a sip and burnt his tongue faking eagerness holding the bowl closer himself on purpose. 'I don't smell or taste anything out of place. Tastes like normal soup.'
"Careful there, a little hot you must be starving."
"Yeah" Kyle took a regular spoonful, Gerritsen eating her soup now too having stalled with blowing on it to wait for his reaction. 'Maybe I'm just over thinking it. It's not like Harran is only full of psychos and assholes now, there are decent people left.'
'Are those firecracker rests?' Crane weaved onto the street taking a quick closer look before taking the safety of a rock ledge pondering on what seemed like a scattered trail of used up firecracker. "Hey Brecken, anyone ever seen a trail of used up firecrackers going along the road before?"
"I haven't, can't recall anyone telling about it either. That might be the only clue you got better follow it. Where are you, want someone to come and help?"
"No I will follow it on my own. I'll let you know if I need help." The finger went off the button as the man climbed again. "Alright, let's hope this trail leads to you Kyle otherwise I'm out of ideas."
'What?! But I didn't detect anything!'
"It sets in fast, after the fifth subject or so meant to yield me the way to reverse my son back to his glory from the shambling mess he is in the basement, I realized very fast a smile wasn't always enough I had to ensure it couldn't be smelled or tasted. Don't worry this won't kill you." The man chuckled, hand gun taken quickly and backpacks kicked across the room out of reach. "Living subjects reveal more, well maybe half dead after I inject a bit of zombie goo. But you are different." His eyes rested on Kyle glaring at him. "This stuff won't even fully paralyze you but it's hindering as you can feel, makes fighting back harder. You know it's just not great being bitten, punched, scratched or someone trying to gouge your eyes out. Short but plenty of time to get you down to the room." Kyle snarled pushing himself up but instead of trying to dash to the door, the boy darted to the rectangular shape and suddenly stomped down, the floor giving away underneath sending him falling down into the secret room. "Well, that makes it easier." The man smirked. "Don't try making a mess, the door is locked and the shelves have bars as you can see, I learned from the time one subject tried to trash the room fighting back." Gerritsen glared at their captor, soup bowls now on the floor, door shut and locked as the girl dragged herself to the hole.' I don't recall the floor being that bad, that boy has more tricks up his sleeve, I'll have to ice his limbs fast.'
"Gerritsen, go for the rifle!" Kyle whispered, his stomach churning at the sight clearly the hole of a maniac with the straps on the bed and so many surgery tools, a few even still having drop of blood as if he had searched every corner of Harran for the stuff and largely succeeded in finding things. Gerritsen nodded crawling over to the weapons grabbing the hand gun.
"Play time is over." The hand held the crossbow with a dart, door quickly shut and locked behind him again.
Crane almost threw up at the stench of the pile of dead bodies, the trail of firecrackers having gone cold by some house, the man lock picking the fortified gate finding a hatch in the ground leading to quite the basement met by a pile of dead bodies being the first thing greeting him. 'There must be like twenty at least…' Crane hurried past, eyes drawn to a door with moaning noise behind it. The man sighed but ignored it for now walking past with a bad gut feeling a zombie was behind it but with the door tightly locked it didn't pose a threat. His eyes rushed upwards upon hearing a crash above, the agent hurrying along the corridors.
"You should know I have a body count."
"A killer and killer in a room."
"No, one psycho murderer and one killer." The blonde growled supporting himself on a counter lining the walls. The finger pulled the trigger, dart flying for his arm and Kyle barely yanked aside having glimpsed the trigger pulled out of the corner of his eye, the dart replaced quickly. The blonde shuffled aside always opposite of the man's movement ducking and crouching behind the center piece. Gerritsen dragged herself back again but the man suddenly stopped trying to reach him shaking his head with a chuckle.
"You, you're a sneaky one. Good poker face though, it almost worked, your little plan with that hole. Should've taken all the guns out of the room but this will work too. You know doing this for a while builds up strength and speed especially when dealing with adults. I haven't had kids in here before actually."
Crane was barely able to bust the hatch open lucky it wasn't covered right now with the couch having been shoved away.
His eyes narrowed, the man thought he had heard something, Kyle hiding a smile.
Crane's eyes narrowed on the door beside the book case, hand gun ready in his hands as he carpet closer reaching for the door handle.
The boy didn't know what it had been but whatever trouble could be a distraction now, he welcomed. Before he could lunge forward with his strength slowly coming back, he got stopped by a dart almost embedding in his leg as the man had crouched faster than he gave him credit taking a low shot driving the blonde back unlocking the door. The handle pushed down and the man slammed it open right into Crane knocking the handgun out of his hand dropping his crossbow switching to a knife on a tray instead with a snarl as the agent stumbled back. Crane managed to block the blow pulling out his own knife as the two men wrestled slamming into walls and furniture, the door becoming a dangerous object constantly knocked against as they dipped into the room over and over again. Kyle rushed forward as their captor tumbled in again hooking Crane in the face and the kid latched onto the man's back with a choke hold, letting himself fall backwards partially on the bed while he slammed his elbow into the boy's chest causing him to let go sputtering for air, spinning around snatching a filled needle off a tray and stabbing it into the blonde's leg. Crane's hands grabbed his shoulders before he could push down pulled back into a struggling match, the knives on the floor. Kyle's hand moved to the needle unable to pull it out as the man stumbled in having kicked back the agent for a moment, elbow assaulting his victim's wound on the chest again causing him to wheeze and unable to fight back, the syringes contents halfway in before it got yanked with Crane pulling him away again catching him with a hook. His hand closed around his knife overpowering the kidnapper as the blade plunged into his chest joined by a bullet quickly. Kyle yelled yanking the needle out and throwing it to the floor trying to stand up gasping for breath calling out for Gerritsen.
"I'm okay!"
"I'm c-"
"You can barely stand. Go sit on that couch over there, I'll go get her and your stuff." Crane caught the boy falling forward obeying the man's words, green eyes glaring at the corpse on the floor as Crane headed upstairs grabbing the keys off the body.
"Is he okay?!"
"He's alive but I think that psycho injected him with something we need to get back to the tower." Gerritsen almost tumbled down the stairs in her hurry hobbling over to Kyle and letting herself fall into the boy's lap, eyes widening with reddening cheeks and a cough.
"I'm so sorry!"
"I-It's fine. Hey Crane… ow… antizin…"
"The man said he has antizin in the house." Gerritsen explained quickly having gotten up after the cough.
"Son…"
"And his turned son is somewhere down in the basement."
"I think I already heard him and walked past. I'll put him out of his misery and look for the antizin, you two get ready to leave this hellhole and wait right here." Crane turned away, first dealing with the son then coming back upstairs going through every drawer, box and cupboard with one hand on the radio. "Tower, come in."
"Rahim here."
"Rahim, tell Brecken I need a second runner here, it's a fortified house north of the tower and I've got two wounded kids here that can't run. There'll be used up firecrackers around the entrance."
"Hey, what's on that note you found?" Kyle asked, the two leaning back on the couch after having called the corpse in front of them 'What an asshole…' in unison, Crane taking note raising an eyebrow. Gerritsen pulled it out and unfolded it, the note short but clear. Run. He'll kill you.' "To be expected..."
"Hey, found the antizin and the tower is sending another runner to help." Crane said sitting down on the couch beside them, Gerritsen now in the middle. "How is your leg feeling Kyle?"
"Numb. Kind of. I think if it was fully numb it'd actually feel better than this." The boy sighed. "You should get Gerritsen to the tower Crane, I can wait this out and get back on my own later." Before Crane could protest, Gerritsen had already cut in to their surprise.
"Forget it, you think I'll just let him bring me to safety and leave you behind?! After everything we've been through today?!"
"Fine…" Kyle glanced away, having ducked away a little at the outburst. "I just don't want you to keep suffering under that broken leg."
"Well, you got hit too today…"
"Let me take a look at that arm, the one with the bandages." Crane nodded to it.
"It's just a scratch!" Gerritsen said out of the blue.
"Relax Gerritsen, he knows what I am."
"Wait, she knows now too?" Crane raised an eyebrow.
"Don't say that…" The girl whispered almost in a growl.
"Say what?"
"Don't say 'what', you're human Kyle. And a hero too."
"Not to the people I let die…"
"But you're to me. And sorry to be blunt but they are dead and I'm alive so… so I matter more. And so do your other friends. Or acquaintances."
"Well you two had a long day, anything else happen on your adventure?" Crane inquired with an amused smile which washed away at the replies, first one from Gerritsen.
"We killed four of Rais' men that attacked us. But Kyle really did all the work."
"Hey if you hadn't wielded that frying pan like a weapon I would've been screwed."
"Anything else?" Crane sighed.
"Let me think maybe I'm forgetting something…" Kyle glanced away with a cheeky smile.
"You won't get under my skin." Their heads turned towards the door, guns wielded immediately, Kyle choking down a wheezed sputter from the quick movement taking out the rifle passing the hand gun to Gerritsen. The guns lowered again, Crane recognizing the voice calling for him as the man came into sight none other than Volcan with raised arms taking in the sight, eyes widening at Kyle's blood splattered body with the boy already knowing the question and having the answers at hand already. Delivered in a truly dry monotone voice.
"Bit myself out of a chokehold. Ever punched someone to death?" Volcan still wondered how a thirteen year old boy got so much blood on the arm by punching someone to death, not a speck untainted up slightly past the elbow as did Crane neither asking or given an answer.
"Let's get going." The trio got up grabbing their stuff, Kyle forgetting about his half numb leg flopping forward caught by Volcan. Having seen that arm would keep him up all night. The quartet made their way to the gate all of them holding firecrackers from the bag Volcan brought and the four took off stumbling and running for their lives using the firecrackers to distract mobs.
"Twenty minutes before they come out…" Brecken sighed, the whole tower eagerly awaiting the return of the quartet, guns ready and positioned to give bullet cover against any horde on their tails, Zere nervously pacing back and forth having come over under heavy guard to assist with the wounded kids despite it interrupting his research planning to head out early in the morning again to continue.
"Come on, come on, come on…"
"Rahim, that doesn't make them come faster." Jade growled with a tired sigh. It was now or never.
"Hey, someone is coming! I think that's them! That's four people isn't it?!"
"Woohooo! It's them, they're coming in!" Rahim cheered.
"And a horde of zombies behind them, start aiming the guns!" Blake shouted, Brecken coming closer to the glass, Zere slowing his pacing as all eyes were on the quartet stumbling, struggling and running up the stairs pursued relentlessly for the last five minutes in the last stretch having run out of firecrackers. Fingers carefully readied, aim taken and the bullets flew with the zombies in range and the four a stride away from the UV lights. The tower cheered them on wildly as they pushed forward, a viral making it past the bullets lunging forward with a leap, Kyle glancing shoulder with narrowing murderous eyes flushing them blood shot red. The viral screamed struggling in the leap and shuffling back in fright for a second, a second enough to the shot and the four made it past the light and into the building, Zere having taken heavy note of the virals behavior but unable to have seen anything other than Kyle's head turn. Offered hands greeted them immediately, the kids hauled up first, steadied by Brecken and Rahim, their stuff tossed up next and the men pulled themselves up gratefully accepting each a helping hand quite tired from the dash for their lives. Lena took over Gerritsen starting to lead her down the hallway, the tower still cheering although eyes widened once they took in just how much blood Kyle had on him.
"We should get you cleaned up, you look a little… peculiar." Crane remarked. The residents stepped aside for Zere to lead Kyle to sickbay, Rahim slowly stepping forward but Kyle had already stepped away.
"I just…" The sentence didn't finish ending in a wheeze as he had turned to the nearest couch but not stepped away fully from Rahim's support knowing full well he'd face plant onto the floor.
"I'll be very careful." Zere assured, the boy having gone out like a whistle which would've been comical if he wasn't that hurt.
"You're having a really hard time with your breath." Crane sighed but also knew why the blonde acted so fussy. This was the perfect moment for it and if anyone was going to treat Kyle like an actual human being, Crane was sure it would be Zere.
"You would too if you'd been running all day struck in your ribs by psychos three times today." The blonde wheezed.
"Let him look, at least your leg it's still partially numb isn't it?"
"Yeah, fine. Do you have soap Crane?"
"I can find you soap, let's go." The man smiled, the tower residents dispersing again relived they came back in one piece and another cheer rung out as Crane told Brecken of the antizin showing the three vials that had been found. The undercover suggested to go to their room blaming Kyle's fussy attitude suggesting he'd feel better if it was just them and Zere to the darker skinned man agreed carrying everything he needed in a bag.
Jade didn't know it yet but she would later see it as a possible mistake having stepped into sickbay to Lena and the girl checking on her because Gerritsen started gushing with sparkling eyes though it slowed down faster than it had for Crane back then to switch right to the smaller Kyle in the tower. "Where is Kyle?"
"They decided to go to Crane's room instead I think." Jade replied.
"Here, it'll take the pain away and no running or jumping around for weeks. No more adventures either, young lady. And here is a pair of crutches, not very shiny but they'll do. Now, take a rest you had a long day."
"Thank you." 'I almost can't believe it… I get to live in the tower with Jade and Kyle.' Her smile dipped a little, the older female picking up on it.
"What's wrong? Except Harran itself of course.'
"It just… I'm here now, met you and got thinking what I'll like here. With Kyle too maybe, if he doesn't leave… he's said he would… I don't want to believe he will... but sometimes…"
"He charmed you, didn't he?"
"He didn't charm me." Gerritsen glanced away but her face told otherwise to the keen eye. "You should've seen him today. I thought I would die, having broken my leg hearing zombies all around me and after a few minutes he stands in the door with that cocky smile of his like a guardian angel with an ego. He's so strong fighting off everyone today dragging me along, coming up with plans on the spot like a freaking genius. And does his best to make me smile even with a broken leg. And all I did was use the last bit of battery on my phone and a little knowledge to make him the laughing stock of the tower with Crane. And you wanna know why I did that?"
"Why?"
"Because I was upset that he only saw me as an acquaintance but if I had taken time to think about it, I would've realized the bastard just played cold. He doesn't deserve the loneliness he puts on himself, I wish he'd just forgive himself for whatever happened back then."
"Well you have Crane as an ally; he won't give up easy on the kid even though he's a brat." Jade chuckled.
"That he is!" Gerritsen giggled.
"And you've got the tower too."
"Nothing feels broken." Kyle said sitting on the floor on a blanket, the blood's origin on the indiscernible though the bandages underneath had caught the splatters from the lower chest, edges around the old burn wound not a pretty sight more so than usual.
"Could you see what that man injected in your leg?" Zere asked.
"No, made it numb probably tried to ice it."
"It should fully recover on its own; do you have more feeling back?"
"Yeah"
"May I see your ribs?" To Crane's surprise, Kyle yielded, the shirt cast aside.
"Had a wound there before and burned it to stop the bleeding but as you can see it never got the chance to heal with being beaten on. I did a sloppy job on the edges."
"That you managed to burn yourself to stop losing blood is remarkable already, most people can't even do that. Don't you worry we'll have those edges cleaned up right away and bandaged that right back up all disinfected." The researcher and doctor gave a smile of encouragement, impressed and horrified at what the boy must've been through pulling that of. What he didn't know was how long ago that was and why and the blonde intended to keep it that way choosing his words very carefully. It was almost like an invisible battle, Kyle watching every move playing with every move and every word to shape the outcome and Zere's understanding to his gain while keeping certain aspects in the dark looking out for any sudden holes in the carefully constructed veil. It was enough that Crane and Gerritsen knew, Gerritsen told out of necessity from their situation and Crane told because he had opened up to him and the blonde still didn't know why he did so easily nor did he like it having caved in to loneliness back then. And he had already noticed it had gotten worse. He had noticed that the tower was no longer a place he could just walk out easily away from the people inside without emotional pain or at least a few would tug him, the hardest one being Crane. His idea of tagging along with Crane for the whole week to better fend off any forming bonds by only having one to shatter hadn't worked and the boy bled every time he pulled away further just a little bit desperate to escape the possibility of the pain that came with losing loved ones. Because deep down, he was only strong in a fight unfairly matched against any regular person when he let his luck from that day curse through his veins using his abilities but inside he was a fragile emotional thirteen year old boy having choked down cry after cry for survival. "Did you ever have breathing problems without doing a tiring activity?"
"You know, I actually think my lung might be slightly damaged from that but it's so little that it takes a lot to be a problem. Like a lot."
"Like three merciless jabs to the ribs?" Crane said.
"Yeah…"
"May I see that arm with the bandage?"
"It's just a scratch, don't worry about. I just wanted to keep dirt out and have it a little disinfected; I try to keep bandages on me all the time. Thanks if that's all I wanna take a bath, see if I can get the blood stains off." 'I can still taste the blood in my mouth… it's disgusting… the hunger when I'm badly hurt… Fuck, I-I'm scared!'
"Kyle, hey what's wrong?" Crane's voice snapped him out of it, head turning to the man with a confused expression as Zere stopping getting up worriedly eyeing the boy. "You looked really angry just now… Want to talk?"
"No… I just… I'm just tired. Can I just have that soap for a bath?" His eyes were pleading like a little child begging, completely exhausted and beaten down instead of the cocky thirteen year old that stood on top of the world pretending he wasn't lonely.
"Of course, I'll go get some."
"The bandages won't be a problem; I put a film over the gauze so your wound won't get wet. Here is some for your arm, I feel like you might want to use but take care of it yourself." Zere smiled leaving the neatly made package in the tiny box beside the boy on the floor. "You come to me or Lena if you start feeling worse."
"Thanks." It had been quiet, the man already almost out the room, his emerald eyes soft with the sweet smile being a smile of a child simply genuinely thankful and content for a moment, the man only more determined to find a cure so no other kid or anyone else had to go through such horrible things again at least not because of the situation Harran was in.
"Got the soap and here is a towel." Crane cracked the bathroom door open placing the towel beside it, soap still in his hovering hand ready to toss glimpsing a bit of the bloody shirt on the floor scattered about with the other clothes.
"Ready!" Crane tossed it, the blonde catching it and the man lowered his voice for the next sentence.
"Your eyes glowing yet?"
"Yeah, we got back and Zere went out just in time. Hey after the bath I'm holing up for bed afterwards."
"Just let me know if you need a distraction, I left some fresh clothes by your stuff in our room. They should fit maybe just not perfectly."
"Okay, thanks."
"Want me to bring you dinner?"
"Well, I'm ordered to eat well aren't I?" Kyle chuckled.
"Yes, you are kid. Dinner is coming up." The man closed the door again with a smile, hand going through his hair. What a day.