Chapter 14: Cutting Ties

"Okay, Karim, I got Gursel's money," I spoke into my radio once Libby and I stopped at the village's gate. "I f*cking hate myself, but that's two pick-ups done now,"

"The self-hatred fades eventually," Karim reassured me on the other end. "Just one pick-up to go, at the ferry station on the old pier,"

"There's a ferry?"

"There was until the navy sent it to the bottom of the bay," He explained. "Dozens of people were stranded there, waiting for another one that never came,"

"So there's a settlement there, I'm guessing," I murmured.

"Head east and you'll find it,"

"Are there any boats left?"

"Yes, but any boat that tries to leave the bay gets blown right out of the water," Wooow.

"That sounds like sh*t," I replied sadly, feeling bad for the people who must have been desperate to bail out of Harran. "Expect an update,"

With that, I switched my radio off and addressed Libby with "Do you know the way there?"

"Yeah,"

"Alright,"

Once the two of us ascended over the gate, Libby began leading me to the ferry station. During our usual trek of either killing or avoiding the infected, I couldn't help but notice that my best friend's cheerful side was deteriorating even further. Why? Because she wasn't initiating conversations unlike before. Oh god, what am I gonna do?

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Libby sighed, aggressively cleaving a biter's head into two. "I'm just worried about everyone at the Tower," One swift decapitation of another biter later and "Henry, as well,"

Now, I'll admit - I initially felt like asking why would she be worried about that p*ssy, but then, there's the friendly guy she always spoke highly of. I remember her telling me that he had quite the ordeal towards the end of that singing competition in England. Unfortunately, he fell sick and it got horrible to the point where he and his mentor were both worried that he wouldn't be able to make it to the finals. But ultimately, he decided to say F*ck it, kept going and got voted as Winner.

Kudos to him! But... if he could keep going with the competition, then why can't he flip Rais off and bail? He'd be a lot happier if he did that!

"I'm sure they're fin—" I began reassuring ... only for a distant yet thunderous explosion to echo not too far from Rais' Fortress, prompting us both to initially jump with fright.

"What the hell was that?!" Libby asked worriedly with her weapon at the ready.

That doesn't sound like anything pleasant...

K-R

(Meanwhile, back on the Tower's Roof - 10:13...)

Lib, please be okay out there!

Ever since she and Crane left to deal with Rais, I had been pacing to and fro for hours now - worried sick about her. I knew that Libby was more than capable of handling herself out there but at the same time, what if... what if something had happened and she didn't come back to the Tower?

Case in point, when she lost her hearing on the 13th of February - which also happened to be the 474th anniversary of a favourite English historical figure, Catherine Howard's tragic passing. My best friend went out at night to get the airdrops with Jade's help via radio and unfortunately, it was mission failed when she encountered a Bomber outside the Tower and it exploded right in her face. Cue my sister to send me out to find Libby and low and behold, I do.

The poor girl lay unconscious with blood sprayed all over her face, neck and clothes - so much so, that one would think she had been killed upon first glance. But I knew she was still alive, hence why I was optimistic (as well as Lena, might I add) during my best pal's recovery whilst Jade, Brecken and Amir understandably sh*t themselves with panic.

Now, it's me who's sh*tting myself. Yes, Libby's a trooper but... I'm still worried about her. Crane as well.

"How are you doing, Rahim?"

I whirled round to see Brecken approaching. "Hey, I'm... I'm fine, just—"

"Worried about Libby and Crane?" My friend finished with concern.

"Yeah," I answered sadly.

Hearing this, Brecken sighed in understanding. "I'm worried about them too. I'm sure they're going to be fine, though,"

"I know, I know," I agreed worriedly. "But what if Rais tries anything with Libby? That's what's getting to me the most,"

Especially considering what he's like...

"I doubt that's going to happen," The Tower's leader reassured me, though I could tell that he was just as worried as I was. "Besides, if it does - Libby's got Crane, he wouldn't let anything happen to her," True, fair point.

I couldn't help but grin, knowing that my best pal had Crane's back. I opened my mouth to agree ... only for a shrill scream from inside the Tower to catch our attention.

What the f*ck was that?!

R-K

(Back at Rais' Fortress in the Slums, Harran, Turkey, The Middle East, Europe - 10:29...)

Man, the dude at the Ferry Station was a barrel of laughs.

Not only that, but bonus points go to Karim ordering us to make a detour and track down a group of Rais' goons who had gone missing. All of them wound up dead, which I imagine would be disappointing for our acquaintance - but not for us. And what was the final thing I had to do? Pick some blueprints one of them had kept for safe keeping. Why couldn't have Karim sent someone else to do that job? I don't f*cking know.

"Crane?! Crane, do you copy?!" Brecken suddenly called on the other end of my radio frantically.

"Yeah, I copy. What is it?" I asked worriedly, as Libby and I approached Rais' Fortress. What the hell's going on?!

"Someone's turned on the 18th floor!" Our friend revealed with terror, earning horrified looks from Libby and I. Oh f*ck! "Rahim and I are trying our best to contain the situation but I can't sugar-coat this, Crane! We need Antizin right F*CK*NG NOW!"

Cue Libby to take off sprinting with panic, and me following. "Rais has promised us two crates, Brecken. Two crates. We're doing this sh*t as fast as we can, I swear!"

"Just... God! Just hurry, please!"

"We're on it, buddy. See you shortly," I reassured him before switching my radio off and following Libby up the van to meet Karim. Okay - the sooner we do this, the sooner we can go.

"All right, here they are," I said as I handed our acquaintance the blueprints.

"Excellent," Karim complimented. "The two of you are a lot more dependable than most of these drunks. Rais is waiting for you. Maybe we can work together again sometime?"

"God, I hope not," I muttered with annoyance.

"Second that," Libby agreed, before politely continuing "But all issues aside, you and Henry aren't so bad. Nice meeting you,"

With that, she and I steeled ourselves together as we approached the white door, prompting me to knock again like last time. Annnnd Rais was still monologing...

"If you show them compassion, they will see it as weakness," Oh, shut the f*ck up! "Give them a hand and they will take your whole arm. Understand?! I give you shelter, I give you bread, women, bullets... and you cannot even complete a simple task,"

Suleiman's back was once again turned to us during his speech towards his bandits - though this time, he was carrying a military rifle. Where the f*ck did he get that?! Meanwhile, Henry was busy sharpening his machete at the right table and once he saw us, a remorseful yet relieved smile painted his face. Libby gave a friendly salute in return, whilst I simply nodded. Nice to see you're still in one piece too, mate.

"I should send every one of you to the Pit," Rais lamented, before he sensed our presences. "Ah, the Tower lackey returns. Do you have something for me, friend?"

Hearing this, I calmly held out the money for him which another goon took. "Yes, I do,"

"Now it's time for you to give us what you promised. Two crates of Antizin," I ordered.

The man took another moment to think this over, before... "I think not,"

"What?!" Libby growled angrily, earning a concerned look from Henry.

"Your loyalty to the Tower is nothing but blind obedience, Crane. A coward's submission to false hierarchies," Rais began insulting. "You follow their rules as thoughtlessly as you follow mine. Like a good little dog,"

"Look, we had a f*cking deal!" I protested.

"Your people need that Antizin. Now more than ever, I would surmise. But any man who follows someone else's rules is no man at all," Suleiman continued calmly, reaching for a small packet of five vials and tossing them over to me. "Here, I will allow you this much,"

"You promised me two crates of it. This is only five vials!" I shouted, just as he shot a bandit in the head without any remorse. F*cking *sshole.

"If you want more, then I present you with an opportunity,"

"What kind of opportunity?" I probed angrily.

Now, this is where things just went too f*cking far. Rais wasn't staring me down after I questioned him...

He was now looking at Libby with a smirk...

Which was enough to boost the creepiness scale up to f*cking 2000.

Oh f*ck no!

I instantly put two and two together and protectively stood in front of her. "No, absolutely not!"

"No!" Henry yelled out, violently lunging for Rais ... only to be restrained by two goons. Meanwhile, Libby stood defiantly with a fierce stare, but I could tell that she was terrified deep down - having put two and two together as well.

"I haven't even told you what the opportunity is yet," Suleiman chuckled with amusement.

"Do you really think I'd let you put her through trafficking?!" I demanded furiously. She's a child, for god's sake! "Go f*ck yourself!"

Unfortunately, my words fell on deaf ears - when he proceeded to address her. "I have an arena where men and women fight for our amusement. I would love to see you fight for us," He then drew himself closer, noticing the sheer terror in her eyes. "I'm curious to see how long it would take someone of your calibre to, ah," A grin. "Break,"

"What?!" I shouted, stumbling over my words. "No! No, forget it - she's not doing it!"

Hearing this, Rais aggressively shoved his rifle in my face. "I hear no true conviction in your voice, Crane. You have not yet made your choice, I can tell," Actually, I have made my choice, f*cker! "Will you be a dog and save the dwellers of the Tower? Or will you be a man, and save the maiden?"

Henry flashed me a fearful look which practically screamed: Get Libby out of here!

"Go and think about it," Suleiman ordered icily, before a bandit pushed my best friend and I out of the Fortress.

Once the door slammed shut, Libby's walls were slowly crumbling by the minute. She was rocking back and forth against the right wall, inhaling and exhaling to calm down and violently trembling in shock. The final straw went to tears bubbling up and her throat turning hoarse, thanks to her now glitched breathing...

It's okay, Lib - there's no way I'm letting you go through that. You're safe.