After helping the team gather up any necessary equipment, Steve and I headed out first. While he wandered off towards Exit 3, I headed back to Exit 1, the entrance that we arrived in. Unfortunately for me, the man who encountered us earlier was back at his post. He narrowed his eyes in distaste but made conversation nevertheless as I approached.

"So, did you find who you were looking for?"

I shook my head, remembering to keep my face neutral.

"As you saw, I found one of them but he was only temporarily back down to collect leftover things left behind. Thankfully, the rest of my team made their way back up to the surface a few days ago."

The man paused and I caught a glance of his directed down the stairs. I cocked my head to the side and made a move to the UnderGround Maze.

"Is everything all right? Am I good to go?"

"No, wait, you gotta pay-"

The man abruptly turned back to me, whipping out a palm. We paused and I, very slowly, raised an eyebrow. Another second rolled past before he sighed and waved me on through.

"Go, go. Just, never cross paths with me again."

"Will do! Thanks for helping out." And turned my back to him.

"Oi Ryan! Ryan! Did you hear about that prize on the head of some Survey Corps members?"

I hesitated and glanced over my shoulder. A short burly guy came running up the stairs, puffing and sweating profusely. Ew. He jerked a thumb over his shoulder and flicked his head over at the city.

"Apparently the Mizuka gang put up some bounty for some Survey Corps members wandering around down here! There's a drawing of her face down at…the…bar…"

The short man finally noticed me and his eyes zoomed in on the Wings proudly shown on my back. I chuckled weakly and scratched my head.

"Well if you don't mind, I might take my leave now."

"No, you don't."

Before I could take another step, the burly man pulled out a revolver and aimed at me. I involuntarily gritted my teeth, slightly shocked that someone reacted faster than I did. For a big guy, he sure moved swiftly. I shifted my footing so I was standing side on to the man, just in case he decided to take a shot.

"Craig! Are you crazy?!" my tour guide exclaimed, throwing his hands up in shock.

"Shut up Ryan! You freak me out and I might slip and shoot someone!"

At that sentence, everyone on the platform froze. My eyes zoomed in on the gun and detected the shaking of the hand. I glanced up at Craig's face and took note of his profuse sweating and rapidly blinking eyes. Looks like Craig hadn't fired a gun before. Well, at least I wasn't up against a pro.

"Look man, we're just the stair guys. We don't deal with all the guns and gangs and-"

"-look, they're offering a huge reward for just one of these Survey Corps soldiers and all we have to do is hold her here until the gang come up and take care of her. We don't even have to touch her."

"But-"

"Ryan-"

I pounced, keeping low to the ground and using my gas cannisters to give me a quick burst of speed. The two men panicked and Craig's finger jerked, a stray bullet shooting off to the roof of the cavern. I reached out and snatched the closest ankle to me, yanking it out. The person shrieked and landed on their backside hard. The gun jerked again, missing wildly, the sudden explosion almost bursting out my ear drum. I wrapped my arms around his weapon like a vice, so tight I could have cut off his blood circulation. Once he was effectively immobilised, I managed to pry the gun from his fingers and tossed it to the side. But my tossing released the pressure and he heaved me off like a sack of potatoes. I shrieked as I skidded across the elevated platform, turning into a gasp as my back met air.

"Shit!" the swear word ripped violently out of me, the adrenaline fuelling the shock. I rolled a full rotation before my senses kicked in.

What was I doing? I was a Survey Corps elite soldier who basically lived in the air.

Finally gripping onto my hand triggers, my fingers pulled and I rocketed back up to the platform from below. As I ascended past the top of the stairs, Craig was still recovering and Ryan scrambled for the gun. I dived for the weapon, missing by inches, my fingers swooping past.

Mother of-

Changing plans, I twisted my body and my right hand felt the brush of fabric. I snatched onto it and heaved. Ryan yelled in surprise as he was sent flying off and over the edge before me. His weight tugged me closer to the edge, forcing me onto my stomach. My free hand scrambled for a blade and unsheathing it, I swiftly stabbed it into the platform ground. The dirt gave way a few more centimetres before we thankfully halted to a stop.

Both Ryan and I breathed a sigh of relief. By now, he was fully dangling over the ledge, both hands gripping my arm for life. My hand on my blade was mirroring his actions.

Then a quiet click and the press of cool metal against my head had me sweating all over again. Moving my head an inch, I spied the forgotten gun barrel in Craig's unsteady hands. Pointed right at my head.

I let out a chuckle, trying hard to cover the utmost nervousness I was feeling. "Now, now, let's all just calm down and not lose our heads here."

Craig narrowed his eyes, fingers tightening around the grip. "You're going to lose your head if you-"

"I'm going to be long gone by the time the rest of that gang turn up to get me."

"I'll shoot you if you do."

"And then my dead hand will let go of this sword and I'll take Ryan to hell with me. In case you haven't noticed, Ryan is relying on me to keep him alive at the moment."

"Do NOT shoot her!" Ryan yelled up from below. The older man hesitated at the call. He must have worked with Ryan before to be worried about the man.

"What if I help you both back up?"

I paused, assessing my chances. "Hah, holding onto the gun? You'd shoot me the second Ryan is free."

"You'd die if you drop."

"No, no, you're not thinking correctly. I'm a Survey Corps member. If I drop, I have my 3DMG to get out alive. Ryan, on the other hand…"

I grinned mentally when Craig threw his hands up in frustration and submitted.

"Argh fine! You call the shots! What do you want?"

"I want you to throw that gun over, as far as you can. God forbid it falls into the hands of a child but with the gang members out in force, I doubt it. Then, you can help us up."

"And after that?"

I tried to shrug, difficult with my arms being stretched almost to the point of no return.

"That's your call."

"Deal."