Nazim switched the bag to his other hand, the trap slipping out of his fingers sending the cans crashing to the concrete floor. "Oh I got it Crane, it's fine."

"Hear something?"

"Thought I heard cans." Kyle replied, having told the two brothers of his heightened senses as no doubt they would come up someday and they could actually use it well to their advantage when it came to being stealthy especially with the brothers knowing.

"Nazim!" Their hands moved to weapons just in case. Nazim glanced around, heading further in after leading the two through the entrance hidden by alley and slum houses, Crane noting quickly that this wasn't the tunnel hideout.

"Osman, it's me! Crane has come to visit!" Crane snarled on the inside, careful not to let it seep into his expression as Nazim glanced to them before looking forward again.

'Great, he just ruined any chance I had to find him if he really is alive.'

Osman glanced back to the chest quickly holding it open for Kyle to fold into.

"Toss my stuff on me!" Kyle whispered.

"You sure you have enough space? What about your metal claws they could cut you." Osman whispered back, worried as he saw him contort and struggle uncomfortably but managing to fold in since it was one of the big chests the stuff inside had hastily been taken out placed beside it to gain all the space.

"I'll be fine, just hurry up." Osman obliged, Kyle's stuff laid down on top of him placed a little to the sides and the man closed the chest and sat back down just in time as the key turned and Nazim came in holding the door open for the visitors before closing it.

"Hey Osman, bumped into Nazim here. How is your arm?"

"Oh, doing well. I think anyway but even if we trapped an infection inside we have antibiotics."

"That's a lucky find, three bottles…" Jade remarked.

"Yeah, been good to see you Brecken's guy."

"Call me Crane. I didn't just come for a chat though. I have some bad news."

"I can tell him." Nazim offered.

'What is going on with him? Something is off… I thought we did it perfectly… he said bad news though… just leave; lose any hope you might have. I'm sorry. Just give up.' Kyle's eyes widened only noticing the single silent tear halfway down his cheek.

"I can do it, Nazim thanks for the offer. Rais gunned down Kyle." Crane watched intently as did Jade, Osman's hand going to his chin glancing away.

'Oh come on, not now!' Kyle scrunched up his nose at it itched unable to hold the sniffle trying to keep away the coming sneeze and Jade's eyes narrowed on the chest noticing Crane glancing to her. The room came to an awkward silence with tension rising, Nazim first to speak.

"Must have a mouse in here…"

"That's a lot of stuff…" Jade raised an eyebrow at the things next to the chest. "Don't even have space for it anymore?"

"Well, we used to collect things for Rais; we know all the good looting places." Osman sniffled to the best of his ability definitely faring better than Nazim. "Thanks for letting us know Crane." Another sniffle came, all eyes back to the chest and Nazim sat down on it glancing to the ground.

'Damn it that was close! Just leave already! I'm going to sneeze…'

"That offer still standing?"

"Which offer?" Osman blinked unable to bring fake tears trying his best with a believable crushed face and sniffles.

"The one where I join you."

"What about your work for Brecken?"

"You know I like helping people out maybe I could juggle it, you know." The tension ripped as a sneeze rang out, Jade closing the gap between chest and her while Crane turned back to Osman.

"Osman, who's in that chest?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Osman shrugged. Nazim glanced to Jade, no intention of budging in the slightest.

"Get off the chest." The woman commanded.

"I can't. Probably just a mouse."

"Nazim, I've had the worst two days and I'm really not in the mood. Who the fuck is in there?! Mice don't sneeze like that!" Crane glanced back and forth moving to close the gap between the chest and him, Jade pointing out that the more they tried to lie it started to look like an abduction her eyes slightly narrowed.

'Fuck… why did you have to ruin it Crane…' "Nazim, get off, the jig is up!" Kyle sighed knocking on the chest causing the man to move and open the lid as the boy stuck his head out unfolding from the uncomfortable position. "It's over, Crane is just too stubborn. We killed me for nothing."

"Shakkur fooled us, those were crocodile tears…"

"Come on Nazim, you can't shed some crocodile tears for me? Shakkur could…"

"I'm sorry…" The man apologized.

The kid didn't look at the tower runners climbing out and glancing away, Crane's heart shattered with emotion seeing the blonde stand in front of him alive without any fleshy claws. Happiness, anger, anguish, relief and exhaustion all crashed like a tidal wave, Jade herself frozen on the spot as what they had seen before opened so many questions seeing him now for her. Crane finally moved into motion, his hand coming down on the back of the head of the kid in a slap stumbling forward with Nazim and Osman flinching. 'He's pissed, I probably deserved that…'

"How could you do that to us?! Do you know how devastated everyone was?! I would've protected you, why didn't you tell me? I would've never let Rais have you!" Crane exclaimed taking another step forward and wrapping the kid in a hug with a snarl carrying a drowned sob.

"I… he was hurting people… I had to make him stop…"

"Damn it Kyle, I would've been there for you. Stop trying to protect me or others on your own all the time. Let me protect you too, damn it." Kyle felt more tears down his cheeks but yanked away from the man.

"It's over Crane, it's not like it even works anymore."

"What the hell are you about?! I see now how you tricked everyone with a volatile corpse, there was a second where you couldn't be seen and knowing they helped you it makes sense now!"

"What about those shots?" Jade questioned thawing into motion again.

"Vest and blood, lucked out that Rais and his men didn't notice or the plan would've hit a snag real fast. Shakkur sniped at me made the blood splatter hitting only the vest."

"We'll explain it to everyone, let's-"

"Crane, just give up!" Kyle snapped. "It's over, it can't possibly work!"

"And why the hell not?!"

"THESE!" The claws rushed out, the left one slightly dripping with blood replacing hands and fingers. "They barely stopped themselves from pissing their pants actually Nazim did the first time they saw them. I see it in her eyes now and you just had it too. People either attack or piss their pants. It won't matter how much is explained Crane! I bet, first thing at least one of you did was spread the news and told what happened, let me guess the story included these!"

"I mentioned them." Jade pinched her nose battling not to jump into a rash action now.

"See, even if she wouldn't have, it would've gone around anyway. And Rais will just start it right back up if I come back from the dead. No one else is going to bleed or die over me. Look at me! I'm revolting, even if it's said to be a trick because I put them away then people will still think about that fucking little magic trick day and night because that's what people do! Gerritsen only knows some stuff because we were in a bad situation and I had to make sure to protect her. You, quite frankly, I opened up and I still don't really know why but it only caused trouble anyway. Rais will target you too if you tried to protect me."

"Fuck Rais, that psycho goes after everyone!" Crane countered.

"Oh yeah, consider this; Rais has the idea to inform all of Harran in detail how these didn't look like a magic trick to him and in an instant he has the tower turned against me!" Kyle snarled, tears down his cheeks now, green eyes narrowed with hostility but unable to hide the pain inside. "I'm sorry, Crane. I'm not strong. Just because I can kill easily now because of the bite doesn't mean I can handle it. I'm weak inside. It hurts too much to see the tower burn because of me."

"But they get to share your misery?" Crane nodded towards Osman and Nazim.

"They're kind of in hiding too." Kyle shrugged.

"No" Jade glanced to Crane with his voice having been strong and determined, Kyle pulling back the loathed claws eyes watching Crane. "You don't get to do that. You don't get to decide over others and make the decision for them if they want to protect you."

"You would've had to let me go anyway, it was the end of the week Crane." His voice grew weaker.

"Not like this."

Kyle sagged to his knees with his head down, silence hanging in the room. "Damn it…"

"Hey we already get shot on sight by Rais' gang anyway," Jade smiled offering a hand stepping forward having composed herself. "Come on, freaky kid the Tower people are missing you. You know, Gerritsen never gave up on you." Kyle's head tilted up to her before glancing back to Osman's hand on his shoulder, the man giving a gentle pat.

"Hey partner we know how to get in contact with you. You know how to find us. Go to your new family, our door is always open for you for a visit." Osman said, Nazim nodding beside him as the boy staggered to his feet pulled up by Jade. The blonde glanced back and forth to the smiling adults in the room, tears still on his face, his arms going around Osman first surprising him giving a pat on the head before hugging Nazim as well though it was not a tight hug but an odd one, reason quickly revealed.

"Nazim you pissed your pants again, I thought you were over it."

"When you looked angry, I got scared. But just for a second. I would never run or attack."

"I know." Kyle smiled turning around and almost bowling Crane over. "Thanks for being a stubborn weirdo, old man."

"Of course, crazy brat. Let's get you home…" Kyle pulled away, eyes on Jade.

"I won't turn."

"How do you know that?" Jade asked, skeptical about it.

"I just know, nothing else to it. But if I ever have doubts, I'll let you know like I would Crane. And I'll let you decide if I'm allowed to stay at the tower or not, I understand if you want to kick me out."

"He can't have antizin Jade, it'll kill him. We have to just trust him on this and be there for him." Crane added hoping Jade wouldn't think on the completely pragmatic side although she had already offered her support to the boy when extending her hand to him, despite having seen the morphing claws all eyes on the woman.

"I want you to show what you showed and told us to Doctor Zere though, alright? If anyone can figure out how to help you, it's him."

"I can do that. What about Brecken. He's the leader, isn't he?"

"Let's get you home and have a chat with Zere first, okay kiddo?"

"Okay" Kyle's eyes widened, Jade giving him a hug as well however her own eyes widened a little as well.

"Are you having a boner?!"

"I'm s-sorry, I have a crush it's getting less okay?!" Kyle yelped pushing away, grabbing his stuff and walking to the door. "Come on, let's get going!"

"Wait, don't you want try keeping Rais in the dark?" Osman asked.

"No way I'll start trying to dye my hair and go for wigs. I'm either staying dead or rising from the grave."

"Rising from the grave." Crane decided.

"Then let's give Harran a surprise." Jade added. The trio bid goodbye to Osman and Nazim and headed off, breeze in their faces as they leapt over roofs.

Rocket's eyes widened, stumbling and tripping onto the smaller roof which ironically also caused the trio rushing by to miss him as his heart thundered in his chest unable to believe his eyes. "G-ghost… n-no way…"

"Why don't you just ask…" Kyle sighed rolling his eyes.

"Come on, from one glance?!" Crane exclaimed. "You don't hate your other abilities…"

"Attacking or fleeing huh?" Jade sighed guessing this was about the claws.

"I hate them because I killed family with them. He wasn't blood related but he took me in like you did Crane, I started seeing him like a substitute dad or at least family. He freaked out the first time they came out during a zombie attack because I didn't have a weapon. He attacked me and I slashed him faster than I even thought. That's why I hate them."

"That's why you said you need those… They made you bleed back there so you don't use the ones from the bite…" Crane said.

"Yeah"

"You were on the infamy bridge last night, weren't you?" Jade inquired.

"Yeah I got antibiotics from there for Osman."

"Did you… rip off those gas tanks?" Crane asking this time.

"Yeah…"

"Why?"

"Uh… to get back… that climb was exhausting alright I wanted a quicker way…"

"How… I… I'm trying imagine it…"

"I tied a tank to myself and stabbed it in the bottom… looked stupid while doing it… was kinda dumb too, I should've probably just tried climbing back cuz I almost blew myself up…" Kyle glanced downward, more embarrassed the more he thought back on it.

"Why do I have a feeling you have something to do with the reported explosions too…"

"I didn't have time to aim… anyone could've hit a gas tank…"

"You know that's not very stealthy trying to be dead…" Jade pointed out.

"Still would've worked anyway if I hadn't sneezed. Osman needs those antibiotics… I had to risk it that was the most likely spot without trying to poach some from somebody else."

"You're quite the runner Kyle." Jade smiled.

"Hey don't encourage him, he's supposed to stay more at the tower!" Crane protested, Kyle glancing away with a look.

"I don't think he will Crane, looks like he'll be following you around again." Jade chuckled.

The tower guard glanced out the window walking by, two fellow residents working out or rather one watching the other do push-ups as they talked. The man choked on his water looking away only to glance back with a sputter, blinking at what he saw thinking he saw a ghost. "Hey come here! Quick! I need to know I'm not crazy!"

"What? That's Jade, Crane and that- is that the kid?! But… it can't be! He must've found another blonde kid wearing claws!"

"Come on, we need to get to the lobby!" Everyone in ear shot rushed to the lobby, everyone else tagging along on the way.

"Brecken!"

"Something wrong Rahim?"

"I- I was on the roof, a-and h-he… come to the lobby!" The two rushed down, the crowd parting for them as Crane and Jade hopped up, the guard's hands frozen in place unmoving looking down with widened eyes. And everyone had the same reaction, shock first in the eyes as they landed on the kid getting a helping hand from Crane and Jade even he would've gotten up just fine staring back at them. "T-that…"

"Hi Rahim" The silent crowd still trying to take it in and make sense of what they saw parted again for Gerritsen hobbling closer with her own face in disbelief but snapping out of it much quicker as it turned to joy and relief rushing forward and throwing her arms around the blonde abandoning the crutches, both steadied by Crane and Jade making sure they didn't topple off the edge as Gerritsen began to cry.

"Jade said…" Brecken spoke now. "Crane…"

"I faked it so Rais would stop hurting people, called on help."

"T-the volatile…." Rahim stuttered.

"Killed it the night before."

"There was a single moment where we didn't see him, Rais and his men didn't either from their angle." Crane added Kyle glancing away with knowing eyes. He could see it. The account of turning would be asked next. Details had been given, minds trying to comprehend what they saw, emotions sloshing back and forth. If not explained, own conclusions would be drawn, chaos sneak in, tension build up, fear allowed to breed leading to destruction.

'I have to do it and they have to judge.' Crane glanced back to the blonde seeing a fist uncurl, arms moving ever so slightly a little away from the body just like back there and the man's eyes widened pulling Jade's gaze to the boy as well.

"Kyle wait!" Crane's words had been too late, the fleshy claws and Kyle's blood dripping onto the floor from his left hand bearing the metal ones digging into the others now as the boy glanced to the crowd as horror settled into their faces whispering in fear to beckon it.

"It won't work Crane, I don't belong. They're scared out of their minds and in a few seconds one of them will make the first shot. Maybe Blake. You tried Crane." Kyle didn't let Jade or Crane grab him tucking the claws back in and leaping down darting aside and away just as the guard's gun lifted with aim so shaky it could never hit the mark, the gun quickly pushed down by Crane with a growl jumping after the boy with Jade. Gunshots echoed snapping the tower residents out of it as they scattered, flocking to windows while Brecken and Rahim leapt down and after the other two.

"Now men, hold your fire. Dead dogs can't serve." Rais smiled at the kid having scooted back stumbling back under ledge but still in sight glaring at the adult, his voice having boomed over the roof as he stood on one of the roofs surrounded by his men and Tahir around the tower. The thugs closest but out of range of being an easy target had a box sitting at their feet. "Rising from the grave, what a feat kid. But you know with that, comes loyalty you promised me even if it was in the heat of the moment. Don't think I'll be intimidated by your… attributes… we'll figure out what to do with those in your training and my men won't be afraid of you either so don't think you can scare them into doing your bidding. Because I know how to keep you on a leash. A very tight leash." Crane and Jade came to a stop stepping in front of Kyle protectively glaring at Rais as the tension grew with both sides having guns positioned now making it a standoff with the zombies waiting for a single wrong move sluggish at daylight, any rushing viral dispatched faster than ever.

"He's not your dog Rais and he never will be!" Crane shouted.

"Of course, Crane the hero doting over his brat. He is no longer yours Crane; he is mine whether he understands that yet or not. I'll train him well to bite when he's told to, heel when I tell him to, heed every command with undying loyalty."

"He doesn't belong to anyone you psycho!" Jade yelled.

"Hm, The Scorpion stings for the kid. Touching but irrelevant. But tell me Jade and Crane, what does the rest of the tower say about your little monster? Why don't you show them kid, show them the real you, display those claws of yours! " Rais announced, laughing into the speaker in his hands.

"Go away Rais, you're just attracting zombies!" Crane spat.

"Leave without what is mine? I don't think so. But why try to claw him out of your doting arms when the tower will practically throw him to me anyway. I'm sure there are some practical minds. Because why harbor that when I'll give this box of antizin. Ah, I already see unbelieving faces. Open the lid." The thug did as told revealing the antizin in the box, half a crate of the much desired substance. Rahim and Brecken had joined the two runners as well stepping more forward pushing Kyle behind with snarls of their own letting their emotions and morals win over practicality despite the fear within still lingering. Brecken taking a stand greatly impacted the others but faces let it slip that fear still reigned and not everyone wanted to choose Kyle being on the fence as the antizin beckoned appealing to their survival drowning morals. However everyone respected Brecken greatly and therefore, the guns were positioned more firmly again trusting in their leader's decision only strengthening their loyalty with Brecken's words.

"The Tower is Kyle's home and he stands under our protection. I don't care about that claim he lied about, we're not handing I'm over Rais not even for that antizin. Leave or be shot down. All you'll get is a fight, he's not leaving."

"Yeah, go back to your hole!" Rahim spat, Kyle watching them silently with tears welling in his eyes glancing to the antizin knowing how much it meant to these people as the tower stood their ground against Rais who lost the smile replaced by an angry frown. The man turned away, the lid put back on the box whipping around again as all eye widened, Crane shouting for Kyle slipping past the reaching hands surprising them as he rushed forward to the roof with the box at the two thugs. The blonde jumped on the railing as they raised their guns, Rais yelling to only shoot the legs but the shots missed hitting the concrete walls of the tower instead as the hands turning into claws in the blink of an eye one denting the metal digging in while the other slashed over the thugs ankles. Kyle hauled himself up and the thug sagged to his knees grabbed at the shirt within a second with his right hand and thrown down to zombies below, Kyle giving a little whistle to guide them so they turned around and pounced faster tearing the screaming man apart. Kyle's eyes narrowed on the other thug trying to get space by stepping back, gun aiming for the boy but Kyle was faster. His hand closed around the handgun already pulling the trigger faster than the man did on his rifle dead with a head shot angled out of a crouch. Kyle stayed low, Rais snarling seeing what he was doing making sure his legs were incredibly hard to get. More bullets flew from the tower and Rais' men, Kyle's hands closing around the box leaning down, handgun tucked back in.

"Shoot the antizin!" Rais ordered, hateful gaze on the boy taking cover as his men shot. "There's nowhere to hide in Harran Kyle, I will hold you to your claim! You'll be mine, serving me!" Kyle stumbled shifting his body rapidly hearing the faint zip of the bullet blocking it with his own shoulder, shifting the box in his arms in case it shot through. Kyle darted into a slide dodging another bullet to the box scraping his elbow and hand for it, zombies eying the kid as well now. The bullet fray didn't last long with night drawing near forcing Rais back and with Kyle and the other four back in the tower. They held the advantage over the cruel man pulling back as they were shot at, driven away. Rahim, Brecken, Jade and Crane were immediately at his side, Brecken taking the box as the blonde's arms loosened around it and Crane pulled him up before he could change his mind again and run off.

"Whoo! We kicked Rais in the ass!" Rahim cheered breaking the silence as slowly nervous but genuine smiles started to spread among the residents pushing their fear away as the boy started smiling back.

"Come on hero, we need to get you to Lena." Brecken smiled.

"Oh… yeah, I caught a bullet…"

"You're a horrible friend!" Gerritsen snarled, leaning on one crutch for her footing with the other coming down on the boy rolling away with a wince. "Would you stop doing that?!"

"Do what?!"

"Stop running to your death all the time!" The crutch moved threateningly, Kyle scooting away hiding behind Brecken causing the residents to break out in chuckles and laughter as the tension got lighter.

"Oh sorry, Harran isn't a walk in the park Gerritsen!"

"Don't you dare get sarcastic with me!"

"Come on Gerritsen, wait until he has the bullet out before beating him up." Crane chuckled, Gerritsen lowering the tool to help her walk with the broken leg used a weapon. Jade took the lead carrying the antizin as the group walked to the infirmary with Lena joining from the ground, the two older kids exchanging glances with the girl's carrying a few glares causing Kyle to glance away with a little bit of guilt keeping Crane and Brecken between himself and her.