'Who was that…' Kyle's thoughts had wondered back to the person in the mask from last night watching them when Crane had fought Bozak. Old Town, when it came to people not geography, was new territory for him unlike the slums..

"Ready to go find the gun smith?" Crane smiled, the sun peeking over the horizon, Rocket getting up as well and the trio quickly ate a meal from cans.

"Yep!" The boy turned to them with a smile. "Here" The kid handed Rocket the picture of himself hugged by his parents all three wearing smiles as the adults cradled their pride and joy. "Maybe it'll help."

"You better not lose that." Crane warned. "Tell me the plan again."

"You want me to go to that woman and ask if she knows any other person that would protect for money here in Harran."

"Her name."

"Zhanna. Mate, you sure you want to trust me with that? I don't plan on losing it but it could happen…" Rocket asked the boy.

"I trust you that you won't, thanks Rocket. Stay close by the university though and thanks for helping out."

"I'll see what I can find out. Be careful out there."

"You too Rocket. See you later!"

"And call us if you have any trouble." Crane offered. The three parted ways, Crane and Kyle while Rocket headed to where Zhanna resided asked by the two newfound allies if he could try finding anything on the mystery person protecting Kyle without ever showing their face.

"We're set up, boss." The man informed over the radio in their new, more hidden hideout, no banner as usual identifying it, the re-owned and easily identified black and yellow swapped for other clothes to sever the visual connection to Rais.

"Good, you know your orders." As much as it angered Rais, it amused him as well how much impact the kid had having played the confrontations in his head again and again to analyze his tactics coming to the conclusions that Crane would've likely lost people he cared about without him. And it filled the man with sick twisted thoughts of breaking and wrapping him around his finger as he mused the damage he could do with him. It had been a slog collecting money and getting the tower back to running smoothly while constantly adjusting his plans in reaction to Crane and Kyle's actions but the man was starting to have steady footing again. Another thing made him smile today as well as his thoughts had landed on Brecken's tower and the fact that they'd be running out of antizin soon, the note telling him to get the money ready in his hand. Without knowing who the other bidders were, the attack seriously prompted to rethink who really was on the playing field. The man had no clue what to expect and who he bid against. He could only use what he knew. 'This war keeps turning in unexpected ways…'

Their arrival attracted gazes, Kyle quickly receiving the most attention and glances from the other younger kids as they walked over to the old man in front of the cozy looking couch. "I'm Crane. I was looking for Rupert?"

"No, you weren't. You were looking for a gunsmith, who happens to be named Rupert." The old man said.

"Fair enough. I'd like to talk about some weapon modifications."

"You work for Rais?"

"No"

"Well, I suppose that helps. But I'm waiting for my wife Jasmine to come back. Until she's here, I can't leave."

"Has she been gone long?"

'Crane, I think I saw pain in his eyes…'

'Noted kiddo.'

"No. Not long. So, it'll probably be a while before she returns."

"And what about these kids, are their parents..?"

"Dead, I hope. Every day I'm terrified that one of them is going to look out the window, and see their mother and father shambling down the street. I don't know what I'm going to do when that happens." Kyle barely noticed and couldn't help, glancing away to the floor as a pang of pain hit his heart and the old man noticed it with a grim expression, the question at Crane quiet. "He did, didn't he?"

"I did see them… I killed my mother in defense… and my dad…" Kyle replied quietly keeping his voice steady, Crane's hand gently moving to his shoulder.

"What have you told them?" Crane asked Rupert.

"Half-truths, that a dark magic has taken over the city, but that I'm a good wizard, who can protect them. It's the sort of game that doesn't end. Jasmine is better at this sort of thing. Hell, I'm a gunsmith. What am I doing playing this magical nonsense?"

"It's not nonsense, you're all they have." Kyle said.

"Seems to me you're doing pretty well." Crane added.

"Well, I'm not. There's a girl named Alya. She's a diabetic, only her insulin ran out awhile ago. Now her blood sugar is sky high. She's dehydrated and exhausted. Jasmine says if she doesn't get some insulin soon, she'll slip into a coma and die. And here I am in this stupid wizard hat, and the kids are waiting for me to cure her with a magic potion. Maybe it's time to tell them the truth. There is no good magic. Only the dark kind."

"Take it easy Rupert. There's a drug store in town. Maybe I could find some insulin there."

"Are you… a warrior?" Their heads turned to a little girl tugging on Kyle's shirt.

"Uh yeah… Actually, him and me are going to help find a magic potion for your friend."

"Oh, do you have good magic like the wizard?"

"Eh, kind of."

"Why do you wear those?" Her finger pointed to the metal claws.

"They help me… when fighting monsters! They help me protect others from… bad magic."

"You have really pretty eyes…"

"Uh, thanks…" Kyle glanced away sheepishly rubbed the back of his head with his right hand, the girl stepping away but whipping around and suddenly hugging him shortly before going back to play.

"Looks you have a new friend already." Crane chuckled.

Rupert chuckled as well turning back to Crane. "Are you serious? Mister, if you could do that, I can't tell you how grateful I'd be. I've got a radio here. If my wife Jasmine comes back, I'll probably go home for a while. But I'll let you know before I leave." The man sat down on the couch and Crane and Kyle headed off to the pharmacy.

"You do not seem like a real hero like that man… but Zhanna has seen this boy. He's done something for you, hasn't he?"

"Something, alright. Saved my life."

"He's a kind boy and strong, Zhanna has seen it in his eyes. What is it exactly that he's looking for?"

"Someone is protecting him but won't show their face. Kyle wants to find out who it is and meet them. Could be more than one person too."

"Zhanna does not know of someone specific. But Zhanna can give an address of someone I've heard of who might protect for money here."

LuckyMedicine turned out be a bust on insulin, only providing some gauze and the two continued to the next one search thoroughly to find it to be a bust as well though that one provided some more gauze and a bottle of anti histamine quickly pocketed. Crane gave Troy a call suggesting to check the pc which the runner did pulling an address from it. The man gave Rupert a call asking about the name and the pretend wizard informed them about who the guy was, the duo heading off to the address and entering the abandoned home with a few infected wandering about in it. Crane read out loud, the night they found a fridge asking Rupert where the pizzeria mentioned is being their next stop. They found the man covered in blood on the floor along with the insulin, Crane quickly picking up it up and the two rushed back as fast as they could to the magic tower finding Rupert in front of the girl lying in a bed in another room.

"I can't believe you've done it!"

"Will she be alright?"

"Yes- yes, it's exactly what she needs. I'll take care of Alya, but could you keep the other children busy while I'm with her?"

"Well, I'm really… I'm really busy."

Kyle's lips pulled into a mischievous smirk. "Oh really, what are we doing next Crane? What else do you have in mind for today?" The boy beamed at the man giving a look over his shoulder.

"Just talk to them. That's all you need to do. I've already told them you're a great warrior. Like a knight." Kyle had an unflinching smile on his face, amused by Rupert's actions.

"You did?" Crane's eyes shortly shifted to the kid catching the smile before they shifted back to Rupert again. "You're enjoying this a lot aren't you… When's your wife coming back?"

"You'll be fine. I just need a few minutes."

"Children! This heroic warrior has returned with a healing elixir for Alya! Now he's going to stay here and be your protector, while I administer the elixir to Alya."

"Well, hang on, now wait…"

"I won't be long." Rupert turned to Alya leaving no room for rebuttal and Crane's gaze shifted to a snickering Kyle.

"Oh, you're helping fellow heroic warrior."

"But I'm wounded, warrior needs time-out." Kyle smiled pointing to his brace with a smile.

"That never stopped you before." Crane scoffed pulling him by the scruff for a second. Crane started by a young boy, Kyle right behind him. "Hey there, bud. What's your name?"

"Kadim."

"Kadim, I like that name."

"I have a secret."

"Really? So do I."

"What's your secret?"

"I'm a GRE agent. Actually I have two; the kid behind me had the worst temper you can imagine when I met him. What've you got?" Kyle behind him glanced at the man with a quick look though it was true and he knew it.

"Can you get my blocks for me?"

"That's not really a secret."

"But some of them are downstairs… near the basement. And Mr. Rupert said we're not ever to go near the basement. Not EVER. But I went down there, just to see… and I heard a scary sound, and I kind of dropped my blocks. They're kind of… all over. Could you get them back for me?"

"That's a tall order. But I'll give it a shot." Heading to the basement and out of everyone's earshot, Kyle spoke up. "I have a feeling Jasmine isn't coming back."

"Yeah… " Crane agreed both only more convinced picking up block after block getting further downstairs and hearing a groan causing the runner to decide to confront Rupert after returning the blocks back to Kadim. "Her ya go, Kadim. All blocks accounted for."

"Thanks. Hey, are you going to tell Rupert about this?"

"Will you keep my secret?"

"That you work for the… who was it again?"

"You're secret is safe, Kadim. But I'm going to talk to Rupert about those noises in the basement. We heard them too."

"Alya is okay. She's sleeping now. She'll need some time to fully recover. Thank you again, Mr. Crane. My wife Jasmine should be back any time, now, and since I know how tiring these kids can be, I'm sure you'll be wanting to move on."

"Not just yet."

"But… Well, our supplies are very limited."

"This is too much responsibility for one person, Rupert. I've sent for help. They'll be here soon."

"That's not necessary. Jasmine and I can handle things just fine."

"I was downstairs."

"Oh… I see."

"And he already knew something was up with Jasmine, the first time you mentioned her." Crane nudged to Kyle.

"Perceptive that kid of yours, huh?"

"Very. I'm sorry, Rupert."

"Sometimes in those noises… I think I can still hear a tiny trace of her voice."

"I thought I still saw my dad in there when I found him as a volatile… but he… he hurt me and Crane saved me… my shoulder needed stitches… I didn't want to believe it then… but it's too dangerous…" 'It was Rais's men that found him but the only way they felt safe to look inside meant he had lied quietly in wait and anyone could've ended up his victim…'

"You poor kid… I was hoping it would be over by now. But I couldn't do it. My wife! My beautiful, beautiful Jasmine."

"This has to end."

"I would let her kill me before I would lift a finger to harm her."

"Give me the basement key." Rupert handed it to Crane and the two headed downstairs, Jasmine's noise heard closer with every step.

"Let me go in first please." Crane obliged the blonde, the door opened as they cautiously moved forward and Kyle stopped the charging Jasmine in her tracks for a moment grabbing her hand with his eyes bloodshot. "He will always love you." The boy stepped away, a single tear running down the female's cheek with sad groan before charging at Crane beheading her as he didn't want the kids scared from a shot. Crane closed the door behind them again locking it amazed at the impact Kyle had even just momentarily just like he had with his dad. The duo headed back to Rupert giving back the key.

"Did you find her? Were you… able to help her?"

"She has peace now."

"Th-thank you. From both of us. I hope, somewhere, I may find forgiveness for what I did. For what I… couldn't do."

"Are you really leaving?" A girl asked seeing the two head to the door.

"I'm afraid we have to, sweety. But some friends are coming to help you guys out. They'll be here really soon."

"What if the troll gets them?"

"What troll?"

"There's a giant troll down in that parking lot. He makes lots of very scary noises, so it's hard to sleep."

"Well, that's not good. Maybe I'd better chase him away. We can't have a troll in the parking lot, can we?"

"No sir." The two zip lined down to the parking lot by the door spotting the goon presumed to be the troll. Kyle didn't use any flashy super strength moves, the duo having the goon quickly dispatched together with the fight barely taking two minutes, a few other infected shambling closer from the noise quickly taken out leaving the parking lot cleared.

"Alright, we're all clear out here."

"Crane, that wasn't the Troll." Rupert responded from the radio.

"What?" A demolisher suddenly busted out a shed splintering the wood having hidden it.

"THAT'S the troll!"

"Of course it is." Kyle glanced to the magic tower flipping the idea over in his head; Rupert could be watching and possibly the kids too. They could just be told it was magic and they would buy it, Rupert could be asked to keep quiet though that wasn't a guarantee. But when it came to Crane at risk to be slammed by the hulking monstrosity or the discovery of his freak status, Kyle would give everything for Crane doubting either had enough throwing weapons to keep distance right now and he knew bullets were precious. The blonde darted to one of the two cars without wheels and his leg pulled back shouting for Crane to scram, boot slamming into the shell of car sending the creaking metal cage into the charging demolisher sending it stumbling back and toppling over from the second launched projectile receiving bleeding wounds, Kyle catching his breath as Crane rushed forward finishing it off relentlessly with blade to the head. "That was flashy."

"I don't want you hurt… you know one bad slam from a demolisher and someone can be finished even someone strong like you…"

"Scratch one troll."

"Crane? This is Rupert. You and your boy alright?"

"Yeah, but kids are a lot more work than I realized."

"That's the truth. Look, your friends arrived, so I'm turning in my wizard hat and headed back to my workshop. I want you to meet me there. I owe you one hell of a debt and it's time for me to pay it."

"I'll meet you there."

The eyes glanced around of the slightly shorter and more muscular man as they set-up the last bits, the place staked out before hand. "Come on; don't tell me you're nervous?"

"I keep thinking of that mask brat… he reminds of a blood sucking weasel… slim… shady… tricky… able to hide anywhere… watching you…always grinning about something…"

"A perfect comparison… I feel the same way." The other man chuckled. "After we're done here, we'll get those two. I'll run down the kid, see what he's got and you keep Crane busy."

"You be careful, heard he's got nasty fangs when mad." The man chuckled.

"Crane doesn't play nice either. I'll be fine leashing the monster; after all he's got a glaring weakness and we have so much of it and the counter too. The only reason he's been safe from Rais in Old Town until now has been us." The other male smiled with a snicker.

"Glad you made it. You two did me a heck of favor back the magic fortress."

"Happy to help."

"And I'm happy to pay you back, so have a look around. If you see anything you want, it's yours. On the house."

"This will do very nicely. Thanks."

"Thank you. And good luck, Crane and Kyle."

"So, any idea where to next?" Crane glance to the kid next to him on the roof, both digging into cans.

"Well we helped everyone who needed help so far. You know, it feels like a long time since we've been at the tower last…" Kyle replied glancing away over the street. "Plus I should probably talk to Rahim and figure out if both of you… have… the stuff now…"

"Did I finally get you to like the tower?" Crane chuckled.

"No!" The green eyes first having narrowed loosened straying away, pushing away others still a reflex to hide from pain. "Yeah… it's okay I guess."

"Hey where do you see yourself… living after all this? With your parents gone…"

"After all this huh…" Kyle sighed leaning back a little on his hands casting a gaze down to the street. "I don't know. My parents always liked the seaside although I'll probably live with relatives." The blonde shrugged, eyes back on Crane.

"What if…" 'This is crazy, he'd be better off with relatives but…'

"I'd rather stay with you…" It had almost been a whisper, the man barely catching it.

"Then we'll make it happen." Crane smiled giving himself a little confidence that since Kyle liked his company it should make it easier. The tower runner was quite aware of what he let himself into but he couldn't shake it off, the picture already firmly in his heart. "You know, of all things that could happen in Harran I never thought I'd adopt a kid."

"Hey just so you know, none of my relatives are awful people." Kyle chuckled.

Their eyes wandered down at the sudden pricks, hands moved unable to even reach the dart by each neck robbing both Kyle's of their consciousness as their legs gave away.

Kyle's eyes fluttered open, a blurry Crane stirring beside him an arm's length away on the cold hard floor. For a second, the boy didn't recognize the man, vision sharpening quickly as he didn't wear what he usually did anyone's clothes becoming so engrained in recognizing one another as they were hardly changed just kept clean as best as possible in Harran. The kid's eyes wandered quickly over Crane propping himself up on his elbows before glancing down his own body feeling a weight at his ankle quickly coming to notice the absence of their stuff stripped away from them although his metal claws had remained. Instead of their usual clothes, both males had been dressed in blue medical grab with blood stains on it sending a shiver down their spines with waking up as well as much worried, on edge, and disturbed as his smaller friend. Kyle's clothes were a little shaggy, that the kid cared wanting them off and his old clothes back along with his things. "Ah, the patients awaken." Their eyes darted around for the deep chuckling voice resonating in the lobby room, every door locked only leaving an elevator.

"What the hell did you to us?" Kyle snarled though he didn't expect an answer from their captor all that much, eyes drawing to the ankle with a smirk. 'I can just rip that off.'

"Kyle, are you hurt?"

The kid's hand rushed down, the booming cruel voice speaking up again just a breath away from Kyle grabbing it to rip off the bomb. "You wouldn't want to do that. If you try tampering with it again or with his, it's going to go BOOM!" The voice laughed before continuing, Kyle glancing to Crane giving a look to go along for now causing the blonde to retract his hand standing up again. "That's better. Go use the elevator." Kyle followed Crane taking the lead, the elevator ride going smoothly to their relief opening again to greet them with vending machine lined up beside a potted plant against the wall next to a hallway, the place proving again to be the stadium in its looks opening up so many questions. The two headed to double doors with a green sign above only to be greeted again with a voice they already loathed and a beep right at the door. "Hear that? The bomb on your ankles just activated. Let's see if you can get to the van in time to disarm it!" Crane and Kyle rushed through the doors into the garage like area, eyes searching for the van with the groans of shambling biters close. Their hearts pounded with every second ticking away, the fact that there was more than one van only terrifying whispering and caressing to the fear and danger of slipping up.

"I'll go for the right side, you check out the left!" Crane suggested, both running for their lives, many doors proving to be slightly ajar making it easier although a locked one the man tried still sent a shiver down his spine with the precious second wasted. The runner didn't get a moment of relief as a biter got in the way, Crane only having his bare fists still wondering in the back of his mind why Kyle had been left with his metal claws when everything else had been taken away. But he didn't care to understand the cruel captor's thinking playing with them like toys shoving the infected and disoriented with a punch evading grabbing hands. Kyle skidded to a stop, flawlessly ignored, one worry soothed and noting to himself that it meant it was someone's else's blood on the unwanted garb the implication of previous victims very clear. Eyes narrowed on a marked white van with doors closed with a crate by it in the back corner. The kid rushed to it spotting Crane coming closer struggling with biter, stumbling as he automatically moved his feet to change course and Bozak laughed through the intercom causing the blonde to snarl. The boy turned back to the van yanking the doors open and quickly pushed the red button before whipping around and scrambling to open the chest to check in it figuring it to hold something as this was clearly a game to the psycho. His hands snatched the blade, Crane having gotten past the biter but another reached out from a behind a pillar coming into sight and Kyle's arm pulled back as Bozak mocked through the speakers. The blade left the slender hand thrown forward spinning and imbedded into the infected's skull as Crane stumbled back and quickly grabbed the weapon rushing over to Kyle thanking him.

"Go and take your prize. I suppose you've earned it. It's time we turn up the heat. Kill them or the bombs explode." Kyle smirked, the screams of virals echoing as they came from hatches glancing to Crane smirking back but the smiles fell as a horn blew and Kyle swayed with a twitch as his ears rang for a second, Crane's frantic voice clearing after a second.

"I'm okay, we're losing time." 'Asshole.' The virals, ever fast and aggressive rushed at them as the duo charged themselves, time ticking away as Crane slowed a step allowing Kyle to be ahead. The virals ignored Kyle rushing straight at Crane lashing out the blade, an attempted dodge hopping back foiled by the blonde right behind the viral allowing Crane to behead the monstrosity and Kyle's leg sent a viral right behind the beheaded one stumbling back ended swiftly by claws. Ganging up on one, the two swiftly took out one after the other, with Crane being charged and Kyle easily dancing around dealing finishing blows.

"You didn't think the game was OVER, did you? We're just getting started." The order to kill more virals came again with the horn, Kyle having cautiously gambled on it coming covering his ears a little in time. Crane and Kyle as much as they racked their brains for a way out in the back of their minds, dispatching the virals again they found a little relief in fighting as they had it easy. "Tick-tock, tick-tock! Time is running out! You don't stand a chance!" Kyle's lips pulled into a snarl at the mocking voice lashing with a kick with a little bit to it sending the viral flying with a snarl, the abomination crashing into the wall and Bozak after a second of silence laughed in amusement wiping off the smirk turning to a snarl with the horn being blown causing their prefect strategy to falter.

"Don't let him push you Kyle!" Crane wore a snarl of his own with two virals in his face and third rushing at his back, Kyle catching his footing with eyes widening in horror.

"Behind you!" Kyle darted at the two in Crane's face, one stumbling back from being pushed while the man turned around to the third and the blonde's hand reached out for the second one formerly in the man's face about to scratch at him. Kyle's hand closed around the collar of the orange clad infected stumbling and falling himself yanking the warped being down, following up swiftly with the metal claws to the throat. The viral having attempted to rush at the Crane's back dropped while the third attacked and Kyle with racing heart closed his eyes as he tried. 'Stop!' The viral faltered for second allowing Cane to turn and take a step back before beheading the screeching thing. Hearts pounding their eyes wandered over the place as they rushed to pipes, Kyle noting smoke though he wasn't sure about it but Crane figured it, Crane and Kyle barely getting up on the pipes finding a crate having spotted the smoke. The runner grabbed the edge, managing to pry it open with a huff with just a second left as his fist smashed on the electronic device within causing the bomb to beep as for a single second there was a moment to breathe only to wash away.

"Ha! Impressive! We might've misjudged you! Now hurry and grab your prize before it disappears!" The doors on the ambulances flew open releasing four bolters, the duo splitting up with Kyle managing to shrug off the short horn easily by now, the fact it was so short helping a lot. While Crane caught one, Kyle got three weaving through the infected with complete ease striking down the bolters while an uneasy feeling starts brewing in both kidnapped victims wondering what Bozak would do as they finished the four fleeing creatures off very comfortably within the threatening time limit. Either Bozak knew Kyle too well or didn't comment on Kyle being ignored by the infected. Crane quickly moved closer to the boy again, hearts thumping as their kidnapper's voice came on again. "Bravo. You both show promise. But I'm not done yet!" The bomb activated again, Crane and Kyle yet again after a crate offering a single moment of reprise and their life secured for just a second longer, both scrambling onto a van and over the fence, Kyle dispatching the two virals inside while Crane pried open the crate just in time. The greenish crate offered machetes, Crane handing it to Kyle. "It's not that simple! Four boxes remain, but only three contain switches! Have some bonus seconds. You'll need them."

"What?! But there aren't any left in here!" Kyle snarled, Crane in no better mood taking his wrist and tugging on it as the two climbed over the fence again frantically looking around for the boxes trying to stay calm. Crane's eyes flickered recalling seeing an electrified gap in the wall when he had dealt with the bolters.

"I think I know where to go!" The two took off, Crane relieved to see the hunch right and the electricity gone as both rushed through the gap with the seconds slipping away. Kyle darted to the left starting there while Crane took to the right, Crane still trying to figure in his mind what that 'showing promise' meant shuddering at the thought of that sadistic man having done something to them other than they already knew. Kyle pulled onto the platform, stepping in front of the crate. He had seen Crane struggle with those lids. No way could he do it without additional strength though he might've already given something away back when he had snapped in anger and they would never know unless Bozak commented on it. Crane's fist slammed down, first box disabled rushing to the second one, seeing lid yanked off by Kyle out of the corner of his eye. "You want your freedom back? Do you? Well then fight for it! Fight! FIGHT! As slow as you are? Maybe you don't deserve to live at all. It will take more effort than that!... Or would you rather just give up?"" The blonde punched the device with his non-clawed hand mimicking how Crane dealt with it and picked the machete back up. To the man's relief he found the third box next, neither opening the fourth, the bombs temporally stopped. "Look at that! You pulled it off! Well then KEEP RUNNING! It's the only way to survive! Except you boy! He will run and you and I have a chat. Stop right there." Bozak chuckled, Kyle freezing on the spot while Crane got directed to run for his life, checkpoints indicated with light. "I've noticed that you are ignored, you can fight without the risk. How? Talk fast or you both blow, you have five seconds." The man laughed, the bomb beeping, Crane yelled at to keep running.

"I got bitten and they ignore me!" Kyle shouted, heart racing, every second carrying the panic in his voice wondering if he could answer fast enough.

"What does it take for you to have to fight for your life? Ten seconds, I'm waiting!... Talk boy!"

"I need to bleed!" Kyle chided himself having twitched as Bozak had bellowed at him and the man chuckled with amusement as Crane landed on the garbage pile below with anger boiling inside glancing up to Kyle shifting his gaze around.

"Well, it's obvious… Go on, CUT YOURSELF! Don't try anything, make them notice you. You'll fight for your freedom. Time is ticking!" Kyle lifted the machete, Crane the one to snap this time shouting that Bozak will pay for it. The blood squeezed out of the cut over the arm, drops dripping down by his feet. "That's better."

'Crane, I can probably disable the bombs with more blood. The parking lot is right there.'

"Not bad! Not bad at all! But you have SO MORE shit to wade through. Seek and destroy!" Before Crane could agree, a goon came through opening double doors followed by two more spotted by Kyle. Time ticked again, every second passing more suffocating and with goons swinging at them the blonde's idea would be too hard forcing both to follow Bozak's play like puppets, Crane shouting for Kyle to handle the other one as he took one goon and the blonde rushed to the one all the way to the right, the third left alone to slowly shuffle closer. The rebar with concrete slammed down, Kyle darting aside with his heart pounding in his chest again falling on inhuman strength to make it hesitancy costing a wasted second and a trip. The blonde scrambled out of the next slam, seconds ticking away and the hand gripped the machete tighter as the kid took a deeper breathe with narrowing eyes. His heart raced with the five seconds waited out for the next slam and the moment it came down, Kyle leapt up on the lowered slanted rebar with swift speed, eyes narrowing as the arm struck out, machete taking the goon's head clean off tumbling aside, Kyle hit with the splattering blood. Crane quickly turned to the third goon, time not enough by how long he needed for the first one spotting Kyle rushing to the goon as well both skidding to a stop by it. The blonde dropped the machete and darted forward tackling the monstrosity slamming into the abdomen and Crane rushed forward himself, blade coming down for the face as the groaning goon fell on the back. Crane slashed and stabbed with all his might, Kyle grabbing the machete again and the bombs stopped less than a second away as the goon stopped stirring. "Well done. And I'm a man of my word. You deserve a reward." A bolter shot out from a door a previous goon and Crane and Kyle rushed at the former humans, Bozak chuckling as the one Kyle targeted fled from the boy frustrating him but the blonde dealt with it quickly throwing the machete instead of spending too much running causing the creature to trip finished off by the claws before he snatched up the weapon again and managed to embed it another's skull with the machete joined by Crane again having dealt with the other bolters. "You are worthy… but if mean to beat us, you cannot slow down! You must run as you've never run before!" The bombs start again, another crate chase hanging over their lives with the red smoke showing the locations quickly spotted and the duo spread apart again to deal with them, Kyle pretty sure by now that his strength had showed not even blending in as adrenaline to the careful eyes and Bozak was sure to watch very carefully. "Here, this should motivate you: you lose, you die. KEEP ON RUNNING! Otherwise, you will die in pain!" Bozak sent them on another race with the way being light, seconds slipping away and added again constantly as their hearts beat to their feet moving as fast as they could though Kyle didn't try to overshoot Crane ever in wait for the right moment for his idea well aware of how much blood it could cost him. "Your time is short. Find speed within you… or you will DIE." There was hardly room to breathe, any extra time they could make much needed to catch their breath wherever they could. "Now- on both sides of the hall you'll find the canisters. Se that hole I marked for you high up on the wall? That's where those cans have to go! Now GET TO IT!" Kyle arm retracted having almost cut himself more as they had finally a moment to stand together but time ticked again just in time to stop him from going through, Crane taking one side while Kyle took the other side eyes falling on a demolisher below.

''Crane, there is a demolisher down there I'll keep it busy.' Crane moved as fast as he could while Kyle whistled at the demolisher gaining the attention of the monstrosity. The boy's eyes darted to the parking lot clear as day outside the building, the glass and doors by no means having the looks of strength to hold a charging demolisher and the blonde darted away bumping into the glass as he rather skidded into it putting on a mask of fright as the being rushed at him holding in the smirk growing inside. Crane's eyes widened peering down from platform throwing in a canister and grabbing the next one. 'Be ready, I'll disable the bombs with my blood.' The kid didn't move, the infected easily manipulated and goaded but a bullet suddenly send it tumbling and crashing in front of Kyle's feet, the sudden shot almost causing Crane to mess up.

"Now, now, did you just try to trick Bozak boy? That's not good. Just in case you did, I suppose a temper like yours needs a lesson as entertaining as it is. You'll EARN your freedom. And this is your penalty." The bombs beeped, time for them shortened and Crane tried snatching a canister faster as another shot almost ruined the throw both frantically trying to see where it had come from though the man had to focus on the last canister. Five seconds left the throw had to be perfect. Kyle's lip bled from biting it, not wanting Crane shouting if he was okay to hear him whimper holding his hand oozing with blood from the bullet wound. "Next time there will be no penalty, now go ahead. Use it. We know. For we chose both of you."

"I did it, Kyle are you-" Crane's lips pulled into a snarl scampering down as fast as he could, Bozak seemingly giving a moment for the man to see stepping closer to the kid he came to love like a son.

"I'll be fine." Kyle assured Crane, displaying the sharp sleek meaty claws reddish in color like a volatile yet so different as they were nothing like some slightly longer fingernails at all with the black crawling up from the tips. The bullet already laying on the floor with the kid's blood on it, the hole gone with the change and the claws quickly got tucked away again as Bozak announced the next trial with a deep chuckle.

"We're waiting for you. Come and find us." The doors from where the demolisher came from lead to a garage like area swarming with infected and a garage gate opened pulling up, Crane and Kyle swiftly shoving and slicing through with the kid punching a few. Their hands reached for the zip line revealing to be really the only way with the path below having a toxic, puddle fire patch and many more infected shambling about, the line dropping them off at a cargo elevator slowly going up with the start of the trial of killing all the infected. Virals slowly started dropping in, the fact that they dropped in from above making them easy to pick of. The elevator came to a stop, the trail rather a breather with the two survivors skilled at fighting and the doors opened up to a hallway of sorts with rubble after Crane pried the doors open. "None of you patients deserve to live. You must earn that right. The right, to OUTRUN DEATH." The bomb signaled the next trial, the moment they slipped through the gate Crane pushed up to a more open space being what would've been the two upper levels of the stadium crumbled right and left now, Kyle taking note of the picture painted to the bit of wall to their left. "Hear that? Run, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE NOW!" The screams of virals accompanied their run for their lives, the dome roof curving above them, metal fencing separating their area from the vast rest of the arena. "Prove to us that you know how to run!" Crane and Kyle looked for a way out as they ran, smoke obscuring a clear sight to the wall further away with more of the arena in the way behind the fence. While he did have a bad feeling, Crane hoped that maybe if they went through enough of Bozak's trials pleasing the sadistic man he would let them go having 'earned' their freedom. "Faster. Faster! FASTER! And now for the reward." Crane punched the traffic light looking device causing the container to drop, both Kyle's holding their balance and hopping down upon landing checking the box inside revealing a double barrel shotgun with ammo which Crane took and Kyle held on to the second blade double wielding. "Now- you must kill them all before the time ends. You hear me? Kill all of them, or you will die!" All of them turned out to be bolters, Kyle seeing one come out pointing it out to Crane shooting it. The tower runner kept his position sniping at the bolters spotted while Kyle hopped down taking down a few himself and flushing one straight to Crane before quickly reuniting with the man on the higher slab. "Kill or be killed! It's your choice!" The horn blew and the bomb came active again with a new time limit, all virals and toads their targets this time. With no crowds, they didn't run into problems as time ticked away slipping dangerously close to zero as Crane spotted the locked container, putting down the gun and picking the lock quickly with Kyle shielding his back, the man's fist coming down on the red button in the crate with just a second left. "Pull yourself together! You must act as a courier now! Deliver these packages to the indicated locations."

"That must be the chutes marked with an x around here." Kyle remarked. Time ticking and the horn blown, charging gas tanks and virals poured from every chute and death laughed them in the face. The boy took the firecrackers abandoning the blades for now by the crate to cover Crane talking the bag but three four points in the mob came to close with the charging the gas tank stopped by Kyle kicking it away but the explosion still leaving a burning a sting though enough to make them fall. Crane knew if he'd ever get to Bozak in front of him, he'd kill the guy without hesitation for putting them through this, a short glance thrown to Kyle ignoring the burn suddenly veering off and whistling grabbing attention. 'Smear guts on you, Crane." "Hey Bozak, I'll show you something really fun if you give a few bonus seconds." The boy grinned and the man's deep voice chuckled through the stadium with curiosity and amusement, the seconds granted and the blonde pushed out the spiked on the lower halves of his arms catching a viral with one. The action and Bozak's willingness to have done it allowed Crane to smear himself to finish up noticing to his horror that Kyle used himself as bait as the mob rushed at him, the kid only a hair away from screwing up flashing the man seen as family a smile.