AN: My beta successfully convinced me that to cut this chapter in half and expand things slightly in the next chapter. That one is finished, but needs to be looked over, so it will likely be ready in another day or two. So there is just one more to go before we're officially all caught up!

Foes 02

School had been, well, almost fun this past week. The transfer to Arcadia had finally gone through - which I was almost certain had at least something to do with the new injunction but I wasn't looking a gift horse in the mouth - and Vicky was helping me get used to the school. It was exhausting the first two days trying to keep up with her, but thankfully she'd calmed down and wasn't nearly as manic after that.

Amy had glared at me for half the week as Vicky hovered. I still hadn't figured that out. I had tried to talk to her, but she just said I was imagining things. Then Lisa had picked me up on Wednesday to drive me down the beach after school and all of the sudden Amy stopped glaring. Lisa still refused to tell me why Amy was annoyed originally.

Privately I thought she had a crush on me…It wasn't going to go anywhere though, so I wasn't going to bring it up.

I had patrolled with Aegis, Assault, and Battery for the last three patrols. Those were…awesome. I had almost forgotten what it was like to walk into the Common Room after a patrol.

Sophia still tried to drag me into arguments or cajole me while I was getting my gear or doing my homework in the base though, but I had started taking Lisa's advice and just leaving the room. She wasn't allowed to follow me when we were outside the Common Room anymore thanks to the injunction.

Even Dad was showing some improvement! Not…much, and I could just be imagining it, but it seemed like he was moving his eyes more as I fed him this week! I still didn't know how I was going to handle the cost of the medicine long term, but Kurt and Lacey had been talking about getting a collection going with the rest of the Dockworkers, so I might not have to work quite as long if that ended up pulling through.

I was just about to call Lisa as school got out when my phone rang by itself. Grinning, I poked the button. Before I could say a word, an unexpected voice rang through the speaker.

"Taylor! Hey! I got permission to call, so I just wanted to check and - well - see how things are going?" Emma babbled.

"Hi!" I beamed. Waving goodbye to Vicky, Amy, and Chris, I started walking down the road. "Things are actually going good, Emma! How's the facility?!"

"Eh, it's boring. But I draw now to pass the time. Apparently I draw well, so maybe I'll have a career beyond modeling, huh?" We both chuckled at that. "Seriously, Taylor, how are you? I asked my mom to stop by, but she never got back to me. She did talk to you…right?"

I shook my head. "I haven't seen Aunt Zoe since we went to talk to her together." Emma cursed and I winced. I hadn't meant to get her mom in trouble…"I'm not really at home much. I mean, I'm not at Kurt and Lacey's all that often. I've slept over at the, um, at my work a lot."

"Taylor," Emma sighed. "You can't just…hide like that. Sophia was pretty adamant about that group not really meshing well. I don't know how much of it was her and how much was the truth, but I like to think not everything was bullshit. And I know you; you're working when you're working. I doubt they're as much friends as coworkers. Please, I know I'm literally the last person to be saying this after…everything. But you have to try to get out. Hang out with other people. Other friends. I'm going to be here for, uh, a while. Promise me you'll try to make friends besides me? I'm…I'm not a good friend, Taylor."

"Emma, no, you are!" I protested, my fingers tightening on the plastic casing. "You just…got a little lost for a while. You're still a good friend."

"No, I'm not, I abandoned you. I hurt you. I hurt you so much, Tay. I'm never going to be able to make up for that. One good deed does not fix almost a-year-and-half of -"

"Emma," I said, cutting her off. "You literally saved my life. You stopped me from…" I had to stop and wipe away the film from my eyes before I could continue in a hoarse voice, "From following Dad. You were lost, you're getting better. I haven't exactly been in the best place myself lately. But I'm getting better too." I sniffled, blinking rapidly before continuing. "I…I have a girlfriend now, her name is Lisa! You'll love her. She's smart, snarky, her hair is super silky. I swear you two will end up exchanging beauty tips. And she has these freckles that are just…so adorable," I gushed.

"Taylor -"

"And her eyes are the most enthralling shade of green that you've ever seen. It's like looking into sea glass. And she's supported me so much over the past few weeks. I…literally can't describe how much she's just…been there when I needed her."

Emma's chair creaked and she sighed. I had heard that particular one enough when we were kids. I could practically see her shaking her head with her small barely-there, indulgent, smile. "It sounds like you really like her."

"I do," I murmured. "Lisa saved me too, Emma. She, um, she helped me with Sophia."

"Sophia?" Emma asked. "What the hell was Sophia still doing bothering you? She only ever cared about you because I cared about you. She should've left you alone as soon as I left the city. Everyone should have left you alone. Madison sent me a letter; she implied that Winslow was a shithole like normal, but there wasn't anything about crazy Queen Bee stuff like I been building up."

"Oh, no, Madison and the others all backed off. They just ignored me. Madison actually apologized…I wasn't sure whether to accept it, but then I remembered how you came over and…I just told her to be better in the future."

"Hmm…Was this like two weeks ago?"

"About that?"

"So that's what she meant…" Emma murmured. "Well, she's trying. Sort of at least. Julia's always going to be a bitch though. Stay away from Julia."

"I'm actually at Arcadia now."

"Oh! Nice! About time!" She paused. "You're not going to distract me though. Why was Sophia still bullying you?"

"I…really don't know…" I winced, unable to regain my prior posture. "All she said was that me not understanding just made her more angry. But I don't have to deal with her anymore. Lisa and Vicky helped. It's taken care of."

"Okay, if you say so."

"Emma, your time is up." A faint voice came through from Emma's side of the line.

"Taylor," she sighed. "I have to go. We'll talk more later, okay?"

"Alright. It was really good getting to talk to you, Emma."

"You too, Tay. Hey, I want to meet Lisa! If you two get a chance, swing by for a visit when you guys get a break!"

"We will! Bye!"

"Bye! And don't forget: get out more!"

The call ended and I slipped my phone back into my pocket; I missed Emma. She did sound so much better now though, so that was good. I definitely had to introduce Lisa to her.

Hopefully Lisa wouldn't tear her apart…too much.

"Heya, babe! What's swinging?"

I paused in my step, pulling my phone back to stare at it.

Lisa snorted. That was more in line for her. "Wow. You try to do something new and look what happens. Your girl freaks out and thinks it's an Invasion of the Body Snatchers thing. We'll see if I greet you upbeat again, Tay."

"I did not think you were a pod person," I protested.

"Mmm, pretty sure that movie had alien parasites."

"No, they were alien spores that grew into seed pods and grew a person inside. Pod people."

She took a deep breath and I rolled my eyes already knowing what was coming. "Neeeeeerrrrrrdddd!"

"Guilty as charged," I laughed.

"So what's up, Tay?"

"Did you want to hang out? I don't have any homework and Emma distracted me before Vicky could grab me for anything. I'm almost at the Boardwalk already. I could swing by."

"Sure. Give me about two hours? I want to try and make you dinner."

I tried not to wince. "Lisa, I appreciate the thought, but I remember the last time you tried to cook."

"I've been practicing! Fine, fine, grab a small lunch, ye of little faith. Get something from Fugly's. Best case, I succeed and sweep you off your feet - and we have leftovers for tomorrow. Worst case, you're not that hungry and we get takeout."

"Sounds like a plan. See you soon."

Thankfully there wasn't a wait for Fugly Bob's and I was able to sit down right away. My burger arrived almost immediately too. There was basically no one here today. Poor Bob. He was probably just begging for someone to order the Challenger soon to drum up business again.

Well that wouldn't be me. For once I wasn't starving. Not feeling like I was on the edge dying every time I walked up a flight of stairs after a patrol was doing wonders for my health and appetite.

I had just started to dig into the burger as someone sat down across from me. Frowning, I glanced up. If it was possible to feel one's heart skip a beat, I felt mine freeze solid.

"You can't be here," I whispered, a cold sweat breaking out on my brow as I hunched over my meal. "The judge said you can't!"

Sophia just smirked, tapping her fingers on the tabletop.

"I can do whatever I want, Taylor. I have my own lawyer now and he said that your little thing shouldn't apply. See you didn't go about things the right way. We work together. You're negatively impacting my livelihood. You're impacting my future career. You're impacting my probation. So you don't get to make false accusations stick. Not until a hearing."

That wasn't how this worked. That wasn't how this worked at all. Vicky had walked me through it. I knew how the injunction worked. It protected me. I was fine. I. Was. Fine.

"Now you're going to crawl back to whatever asshole you blabbed to and tell them you made a mistake. You're going to retract this stupid restraining order. Then you're going to go to the PRT and tell them to stop digging into my shit. Goottt it?"

I took a bite of my burger and resolved to ignore her. I ignored the way my hands shook too.

"I'm talking to you, Hebert. The least that a little bottom feeder like you can do is listen when I talk."

"I'm eating. Please leave or I'll be forced to call the police and have you arrested for violating the injunction."

"Our conversation isn't done," Sophia said, her voice low, resonating. "You keep running away like a fucking coward. You're the rabbit and I'm the lion, Hebert. Just because I let you get a bit further ahead doesn't mean that I let you get away."

I glanced up, my eyes narrowing as I scowled at her. "I said leave, Sophia."

"See, your words say 'go', but your voice and your manners say 'stay'. Come on now, Hebert, we both know that you're going to cave and give me what I want."

I set the burger down and let out a slow breath. I could do this. I was safe. I was fine. "Apparently nearly getting me shot last time wasn't enough for you? Me passing out nearly every time wasn't enough for you? You want me to do that to myself again? No thank you. I'm never going to be your partner again and I'm going to make that restraining order permanent. Now leave before I call the police."

Sophia just grinned. "Aww and here I thought that you had an actual threat! You want a lesson in how to threaten someone? Here: You're going to withdraw that order and then you're going to go to Piggy and you're going to beg to patrol with me - only me - again. If you do all that, I might just neglect to mention to the woman how you're sleeping with the enemy."

I tried not to react, but I couldn't help the flinch and I knew that my face got paler from the way her lips spread to slasher-width.

"You're supposed to stay away from me. You're supposed to leave me alone," I whispered.

"Aww, you can't even protest without crying!" Her smirk was like a physical slap. "You know I wasn't sure until just now. I had my suspicions - and anonymous texts don't help the matter let me tell you; almost put me off the scent entirely - but you, oh Tay Tay, you might as well wear a goddamn sign."

"What did I ever do to you?" I whispered.

"You existed, Hebert," Sophia snarled, her facade fading for an instant. She glanced around, yet, to my eternal dismay, none of the people here were close enough to have overheard her slip up. Nobody ever was. She was careful that way.

This wasn't supposed to be happening! I was supposed to be safe! She was supposed to be gone!

Sophia leaned over the table, glaring at me with narrowed eyes. "I would've left you alone, Hebert. I would've let you drown in your misery. But you had to go and mess with the only person who understood me in this godforsaken city."

"What?"

"You stole Emma from me. You poisoned her. Your dad tried to kill himself and my best friend suddenly decided that you were worth something again. I would've said you Mastered her, but we both know your powers are fucking useless."

"So that's why you're torturing me? That's why you won't leave me alone?" I gasped. My hands flew to my mouth, and I sat up ramrod straight, my food entirely forgotten.

"You stole the only friend I had from under me, you fucking bitch! She went to rag on you one day and the next thing I know she's claiming I'm toxic! That I'm the problem and that you're a fucking Saint!" Sophia hissed. "Well fine, you want to be a Saint, you get to be a Saint. If I have to play on your complexes until you go too far and kill yourself to get my justice, then that's just what I'll fucking do. Who's going to stop me?"

"I'll tell Armsmaster," I gasped. It was harder to breathe and the diner was suddenly a lot smaller than when I had walked in. Where was everyone? Why hadn't I called for help? I should call for help. Where was my phone? I needed my phone…

She scoffed, her face splitting back into the maniacal grin as she fell back against the seat. "Oh please. Beardy McUseless isn't coming to your rescue. Everyone can see how he avoids you. Do you know why, Hebert? He thought you might be a biotinker that he could take under his wing, but you're not; you're just a pathetic little excuse for a Trump that can't even use her power more than five times in a row without nearly killing herself."

I clenched my fists and squeezed my eyes shut, breathing hard. Armsmaster didn't think of me like that. He wasn't avoiding me, he wasn't. And it wasn't my fault that Emma had come to me to apologize after Dad had…That she had found me when I tried to…After she had walked in on…It wasn't my fault! I had helped her! She was getting better!

"Come on, Tay Tay. We both know you're going to knuckle under and agree. You don't want Piggy to find out about you and Tats. Don't you neeeeed that money? For dear old daaaady? Or," she gasped, the hand over her mouth doing absolutely nothing to hide the wide, gaping, smirk, "there's such worse potential options! That pretty little blonde, why, she might just wind up in my crossbow sights!"

"You wouldn't…"

Sophia's hands laid flat on the table and she met my gaze. I understood why Rachel didn't like smiles with teeth now. "All you have to do, Taylor, is drop the restraining order. Then go out on patrol with me. And I just know that I'm going to get into fights where it is vitally important that I get buffed up. And you're going to have to help me, because if you don't…" Sophia trailed off.

"I'll talk to Director Piggot. Or Mr. Anderson," I whispered. It wouldn't work. I was grasping at straws and we both knew it. The Youth Guard hadn't been able to do much of anything for me at all since I joined. They talked a big game, but they couldn't really do much beyond submit fines.

"The day that Piggy gives a passing shit about any cape is the day that I screw Grue." She didn't even mention the Youth Guard threat. "So, we patrol at 8 normally. I was thinking we should leave at 7. Better to be safe than sorry, right? You don't mind the extra hour do you? I've already okayed it with MM."

She was really aiming to get me to kill myself. She wasn't even trying to pretend anymore, but blatantly telling me that to my face. Trying to make it stick this time.

And it was going to work. I couldn't refuse to buff her, not with her threatening Lisa. I couldn't. I had to - I had to -

There was no one else I could talk to.

I stumbled out of the booth, my head swimming and my eyes hot. I didn't pay attention to which door I barged through, I just needed to get away. I needed to call Lisa. I didn't have anyone else. I didn't -

"Where the hell do you think you're going, Hebert?" Sophia hissed, her hand clamping on my shoulder and spinning me around, slamming my back into the brick alley wall just outside Fugly Bob's.

I cried out, collapsing to the dirty concrete, holding my aching shoulder and staring up at her as she loomed over me.

"Please…"

"Beg all you want. It doesn't make any difference. How many times do I have to tell you before you get it through your thick skull, Hebert? No. One. Cares. About. You! That blonde bimbo is using you. Glory Hole is probably just trying to get laid with an easy slut like you. Chris couldn't be more obvious about thinking with his dick than Vista is with her damn puppy dog eyes! No one actually cares about you. No one is going to give two shits if you bother to blab. You're useless, I'm useful. You're a victim, I'm a predator. You're weak, I'm strong. You stole my friend away from me and you're going to fucking suffer for it."

She dropped to her knee and punched me, knocking my glasses to the ground, and sending all of the air out of my chest in an instant. Half a second later, I bent over, hurling up the half of a burger that I had managed to eat before Sophia had found me, the acid burning my throat and bringing more tears to my eyes as I choked on the bile still in my windpipe.

"Emma needed help," I whispered, once I got my breath back. I tried to crawl away from her, but I couldn't get around her; she was blocking the mouth of the alley. There was someone standing there, behind her, with his phone out. He was too far away to see without my glasses, but he didn't seem to be interested in helping much; he just wanted to record my beating. Probably for posterity.

God I hated this city…

"I was helping her. Now you're going to get up, you're going to tell those nice courts that you're fine with working with me, and then you're going to pump me up at least six times tonight. After that, we're going to do the same thing in two days, except you're going to hop me up seven times then. We'll aim for eight the next time."

"No!" I shook my head, my hair whipping across my face. I finally managed to pull myself level with the garbage bin. That was a mistake. Sophia kicked my side and smashed my arm against it, leaving my left side numb from her kick and my right arm aching from the dumpster.

"What did you say?"

"Leave me alone!" I shouted.

Sophia knelt down in front of me. She grabbed my hair, her face morphing into something barely recognizable as human. "Did I fucking stutter? There's no argument here. You're going to do it. One way or the other."

I bared my teeth at her. "And how are you going to explain how I got hurt?"

"Good thing I was here to stop the thugs from roughing you up huh?" Her grin was back. In the face of the monster it looked completely unnatural and just served to make her even more terrifying. "We've already established that people don't listen to you. They sure listen to me though. I'm the poster case. I'm a golden child. I'm a success story. My word against yours. Guess. Who. Wins." She chuckled. "Actually, since you are already roughed up…"

My eyes widened and I tried to jerk away, but I wasn't strong enough to break her hold. There was a crunch as she stepped closer and I knew she was stepping on my glasses. Then Sophia jerked my head to the side, slamming me into the garbage bin. The world spun, and there was red over half of my vision. Was I actually seeing red? Shouldn't it be blurry instead?

Oh. That was blood in my eye.

Sophia slammed my head to the side again, her laughter echoing in my ears. "Hey, do you want to get started on buffing me now, Tay Tay? Maybe I can make this quick for you instead then? I'm sure that you don't want to suffer for long. I can even tell your bitch you went out like a real woman instead of like a sobbing wreck."

Images flashed in front of my eyes. My dad. The swinging tie. The swinging jump rope. Emma. Missy. Vicky. Lisa. Chris. Kurt. Lacey.

Mr. Spinster stared up at me as I stumbled back from his cage. His cold, dead eyes judging me.

Showing me my power. Showing me what I was meant to do.

The switch flipped. The current reversed.

Sophia laughed, swinging for my stomach again. I grabbed her arm, clamping on with both hands. My lips pulled away from my teeth.

"You want my power? My energy?" I spat. "Well I want yours!"

As I tore at her essence, I saw Mr. Spinster grinning up at me from atop his broken cage, his cold, dead eyes shining with approval.

\/\/~*.' '.*~\/\/

Forward

I followed behind Lisa as her boss' men marched us through his base. I didn't understand why we were here. I thought we were supposed to be getting a van from Lisa's boss, not sitting down for a meeting with him.

It didn't matter. As long as he gave us the van and a route through the patrols so we could get out of the city, he could talk all he wanted. I didn't want to involve Vicky anymore than I already had. I knew she was in trouble for getting Sophia focused on me. If I had never gotten the restraining order then Sophia would never have come after me and I wouldn't have killed her. The more I tried to contact Vicky now, the worse it would get for her. It was better to let Lisa's boss get us out.

The less I hurt anyone else, the better.

I shuddered and pushed away images of the alley.

One of the mercenaries opened the office door and pushed us inside. Lisa's gasp, tweaked something inside me, sparking a brief flare of interest. I lifted my eyes, trying to follow her gaze. There were two leather-bound chairs in front of a huge desk, a black-clad man with a white-snake pattern on the bodysuit seated behind it, his fingers steepled on the tabletop.

And in a third chair, angled just off to the side, Vista was slumped, either paralyzed or unconscious judging from the slow rise and fall of her chest.

I let out a reflexive sob, my hand shooting out and grabbing for the back of Lisa's shirt even as the door behind us slammed shut, trapping us with the man - with Coil. That had to be who this was.

"Good evening. Please, sit. I understand you've both had a very long day."

"Congrats, Coil, you've managed to kidnap not just an ex-Ward now, but a current Ward. This is a new level of stupid, Boss," Tattletale sighed. She pulled one of the chairs back, keeping it behind the other and gently guided me to sit in it as she took the one in front. I couldn't take my eyes off of Vista.

I wanted my costume. I should have come in my costume. My jeans were ripped and torn. My shirt was one of those stupid "I Heart Brockton Bay" shirts that was two sizes too big. My glasses were still broken - not that I needed them anymore, not since I had supercharged myself.

The well of essence had drained enough now that I wasn't overflowing with it anymore. But…now I may need to be overflowing…Between Vista and Lisa…We were supposed to be safe coming here!

"Come now, Sarah, we both know that I always win in my endeavors. Vista here is simply a useful cog in this wheel." His voice was soft, his smile was wide, his hands never left their clasped position. And yet, Lisa froze solid, barely even seeming to breathe.

Lisa hated that name. He shouldn't use that name…

"…So that's how it's going to be, Coil?"

"Surely you always knew it would come to this one day?"

"I'm still useful to you."

"You were yes. But you see, I've gotten rather exhausted dealing with your little rebellions and sabotages. You are annoying, child. Torturing you only works for so long before it gets boring, and I have more important things to do."

Torture? What? But…she worked for him? The Undersiders were so nice…And he was kidnapping Vista. And us. And…Nothing made sense anymore.

"You're not even going to bother gloating then?" Lisa asked.

"I'm sure that you've figured out most of it already," Coil scoffed. "Besides, weren't you already planning to leave me, Sarah? Fly the coop as they say?"

She leaned forward, scowling. "Fine then," she spat. "Let's make a fucking deal. You keep me - as your pet," her whole body shuddered as she hissed the word, "I won't rebel, I won't betray you, but you let these two go. You can drug me, keep me chained up - whatever the sick fucking game gets you your jollies. But let them go."

No…

I tightened my grip on her shirt, trying to edge it up. I couldn't let that happen. If I could just reach her skin, maybe I could buff her and help her think her way out of this.

"Now why would I do that?" He smiled as he leaned over the desk. "Braid is wrapped up so nice and pretty for me; like a present. You did such a good job bringing her in. You literally just walked her through my door!"

Lisa actually growled at that, her knuckles white on the chair's armrests. I got her shirt a little higher. "Because you manipulated the videos you sent me, you bastard! Did she even kill that girl? Did she ever even have to run away? Could she have just stayed there at Fugly's and been perfectly fucking fine?!"

"Oh Shadow Stalker is quite dead, yes. I never lied. I just didn't allow you to see everything. Do you have any inkling of how many attempts I had to make to convince you that the Birdcage might be on the table without tipping you off to my editing work? It was quite irksome. Between working around your little rebellions and Braid's sheer power, why do you think I'm so willing to trade up? Your power is useful; but hers is better. Coupled with Vista?" He chuckled. "Once the two are broken in, they will be an unstoppable team. I will be able to take complete control. Subtly has its uses, but I cannot be expected to simply walk away from a perfect opportunity for force when it is presented in front of me. Surely you of all people understand that, Sarah."

"Lisa?" I murmured. I managed to get her shirt pulled out of her pants, but I still had to get it lifted another few inches before I could get through to her skin. If I could just stall for a bit longer we might be okay. "I thought he was going to help? I thought we were…I thought we were…leaving…" My voice cracked on the last word. Maybe I wasn't entirely faking that.

That was okay. It made it more real.

"You'll never break her," Lisa hissed.

Coil smirked, shaking his head. "Oh my dear, dear, Sarah. I already have. Three times in fact. Four if you want to count the one I just finished with a few minutes earlier. She's so…simple to deal with at the moment, truly. I imagine Vista will be harder, but I'm willing to put in the effort."

Lisa inclined her head. "So this is just a throwaway then…"

"Oh no, not at all. You see, Braid is quite devoted to you since you took her in after Shadow Stalker's demise. I'm sure there's probably another reason, but I honestly don't care. Keeping you around as a leash was useful, but she has been very distracted lately and I don't want you influencing her anymore. Her depression makes her pliable. So we're going to go about this a different way. I'm going to try out some of the methods the Gesellschaft use for their programming. I imagine that I'll get much better results. Night and Fog were stellar examples of their methodology after all."

Lisa leaned back, and I could hear the vulpine snarl in her words. "You poor, pathetic, little man. You have no idea of the shit show that is about to rain down on you. Fine. Do whatever you want to me." She twisted, looking over her shoulder at me. My eyes widened as I lost my grip on her shirt, all of my progress gone in a moment. Lisa just smiled at me and grabbed my hand, squeezing tight through her gloves. Gloves I had made her wear, because I was scared of myself, gloves that were going to get her killed now.

"Tay? I need you to listen to me, okay?"

"Lisa?" My voice was even quieter than before.

"The PRT, the Protectorate, your friends, they never blamed you, they never held you responsible, and they were never hunting you. They never wanted to lock you up and I'm sorry I gave you bad information. I had bad data, I messed up, I messed up bad. This fucker probably tried to hurt your dad, Kurt, and Lacey too. I doubt he got them, otherwise he'd be throwing it in our faces right now."

"But -"

"No, listen, in a few seconds you're going to freak out and you're going to freak out bad. That's okay, but I need you to focus when you do. I need you to focus on him. Hurt him. Like you did with Sophia. Invert your power. Invert it, flip it. Hurt him. Drain him. This is not like with your pet. This is not a tragic situation. He deserves it; don't think for a single second that he doesn't."

I sniffled, my forehead dropped to the small of her back. "Lisa I-I don't…I'm scared…Lisa I can't…"

"Oh my poor, Sarah, my poor pet. Do you think I would have let you talk if she was able to do that on command yet?" Coil laughed. He pulled a gun from the desk drawer and laid it on the tabletop. "In the other version of this, I killed you nearly as soon as you opened your mouth. Braid shut down almost immediately. That's not quite what I'm looking for. In a different attempt, I was able to push her to drain lifeforce at a touch, but I never retrieved Vista in that version and it took nearly three days of effort. Trying to maneuver Shadow Stalker effectively had also led to excessive casualties. I decided it wasn't worth the downsides. This one seems to have the best combination of effects so far! Why, just look at her, she's already halfway to the point I need her at. Never let it be said I'm not generous: any last words, pet?"

"Taylor -"

The noise of the gun's retort was impossibly loud in the small room.

"Okay, maybe, I'm not quite so generous."

Coil laid the smoking weapon back down on the table as Lisa's still body slumped in her chair. My white shirt was covered in red blotches, and my face and hair were sticky and wet. Lisa's hand slipped from my nerveless fingers as her body fell forward with nary a sound.

I wasn't even sure I was still breathing myself.

The door to the room slid open and three mercenaries trotted inside. The leader looked to Coil who just waved them forward. "Get Vista into her new cell. Do not forget to ensure the animals are in there as well. The last thing we need is for the child to bend the gap in the vault door because some idiot forgot to limit her power. And get Tattletale's body over to Site D. Pitter's team should have everything arranged by now to make it look like she was the culprit of the kidnapping. All we need is the body to complete the illusion."

"What about the team, Boss?"

"I'll handle the Undersiders. You just worry about moving the body. And someone get Braid into her room." He turned towards me, and ran his gloved hand under my jaw. "Oh, I have so many things to do with you, my pet!"

\/\/~*.' '.*~\/\/