The first thing I did after eating was lay down. I replayed the most recent fight in my head. My first shot… missed. My second shot was thrown off course. Third, was perhaps the best shot.

  I thought back, as to why I failed. The answer was immediate as well as obvious. The hulking shade had been aware, perhaps more aware than most I had met or fought to this point.

  Thinking back, almost a month ago, when I was fighting those strange white creatures. They had swarmed, but they had no self-preservation. Making them almost too easy to take down. They didn’t try to dodge or block my shots. Merely charging forward. In a way, it was like a shooting gallery.

  I needed more practice. I needed to visit a shooting range. My weapon came with general knowledge and know-how, and some experience that had been etched into my bones. Having my weapon in hand felt comfortable, like a friend, an old friend, however it didn’t make up for the lack of experience.

  Only when I was covered in ice could I truly shoot. When emotion bled away, when there was nothing left but grim purpose. In a way, it was comforting. Comforting to push away all those emotions, but like smoking had been, it was a vice. The more I rely on it to do my job, the worse it’ll become and eventually…

  If I keep freezing myself to handle my problems. Eventually, my heart will become so brittle, it’ll shatter.

  Not a pleasant thought…

  I inhaled, exhaled. My fingers twitched. A familiar desire came to the fore… I could really go for a smoke…

  The thought made me chuckle.

  As it was, I was lying down, an arm covering my eyes. Trying to get some rest. Perhaps I did. My mind drifted off for a moment, the next it snapped back into place. It was quiet, save for the low creaking of mechanisms cranking away, and a low rumble that ran through the stone. A fine mist of water hung in the air, the smell almost pleasant.

  It was oddly comforting. Soothing…

  With a groan, I forced myself up. Diana was curled up against the wall, her eyes shut. Tabitha was lying down, her spear wrapped in her arms. Grim though, was looking right at me. Something danced in her eyes. Curiosity, perhaps? Or something else?

  “Having trouble sleeping?” She asked.

  “A little…” I admitted and considered… “It’s been like that ever since the event.” The nightmares still came, but I haven’t had another panic attack since. Getting a full night’s rest was dependent on me drinking more booze than I was comfortable with, especially when I had to work the next day.

  “I can imagine…” She started and looked away, her eyes shut. “I still remember my first event.” Her tone was wistful, and I didn’t speak up.

  Grim… confused me. There was something about her that was magnetic. That drew me in. My eyes flitted in her direction when I wasn’t paying attention. It wasn’t something I was comfortable exploring. Not here, not now, not ever.

  Eventually, Grim spoke up again.

  “You must be curious?”

  “Of?” I asked.

  “My story, perhaps? My origin? Or why is it I helped you out back there?”

  Part of me was, and yet… “No, not really.” I’d much rather not be involved. She smelled like trouble. Even if something about her drew me in.

  She laughed. “A typical response befitting a rabbit.”

  Her words carried a kind of mocking tone to it.

  “Is that a problem?” I pressed, though, I couldn’t be sure exactly what she said that annoyed me.

  “For a rabbit, no. I shouldn’t expect you to be that curious of my background, not knowing what I know about your type. Unlike us, you weren’t given a choice. Rather, you were likely taken at a crucial moment, a life defining one, no?”

  I kept my mouth shut, but she gave me an almost primal grin.

  “I thought so, when I saw you arrive at the city center, drenched in far too much blood. You’re hardly the first to arrive in such a state, nor will you be the last. Just the fact that we’ve encountered each other, not once, but twice now tells me all I need to know.”

  “And that would be?” I asked, curious, but also desperate to shift the subject.

  “That the mascots have an interest in you.”

  “Is that good, or bad?” I had to ask.

  She didn’t immediately respond. Her eyes were on me, and there was a heat in them I couldn’t quite explain.

  “That remains to be seen…” She finally said and shuffled uncomfortably in her spot.

  “Regardless, it shouldn’t matter to you, not yet.” She said with finality. “It’s far too soon for you to be thinking of such things. After all, you are new to the politics of this city, and I’d rather not ruin your initial period.”

  “Would it really ruin it, if I had to know?”

  She laughed. “You don’t need to worry. You are nowhere near having to worry about the broader picture as you are. If possible, you might never have to worry, but… I highly doubt that would be the case. Eventually, you will get involved. It doesn’t matter if you decide to or not. It will happen.”

  Her words were ominous and yet, I couldn’t disagree. Even without Usagi, or some mascot or whatever interfering in my life, I planned to climb. It was just a matter of time to be honest, and she wasn’t wrong. Learning who the players are now would just restrict me. Better to play innocent for the time being.

  “I can tell you understand, now how about a change of topic.” Grim offers.

  “That sounds nice.”

  “What are your thoughts on Tabitha?” She asks, starting with an odd question, especially with the person being here, in the room.

  “She is a surprisingly good teacher.” I answered honestly.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “She is, isn’t she? Tabitha has skill, and she has the trust of the matron of the woman’s home. And what of Diana?”

  I wasn’t sure where this was going, but I answered honestly. “She’s earnest.”

  Grim nods. “And what do you think of me?” She asks, taking me for a loop.

  “Trouble.” I answer without hesitation.

  Again, she laughs “I won’t disagree with that assessment. And what about you? What do you think of yourself?”

  “Myself?”

  “Yes, you. What do you think about yourself?”

  I don’t immediately answer. Instead, I take a moment to ask myself that very question, after all, what did I think of myself?

  It took maybe a moment to reflect. I was many things, but above all, I was… “Selfish.” I said calmly.

  Grim merely nods. As if expecting that response. Then, she spoke, “And what about Diana, what do you think of Prima?”

  My gaze snaps to Diana, where she had been sleeping. Or at least, appeared to have been sleeping. Having been called out, her eyes flew open, and she gave me, and Grim a look.

  “I don’t think she’s wrong. She is selfish.” Diana said with a bit of bite.

  I didn’t argue, she was right after all.

  “And what do you think of yourself, Diana?”

  “I…” She hesitates. Her eyes flicked to me, then Tabitha, whose eyes were shut, but at this point, it wouldn’t shock me if she was awake as well.

  Eventually, she speaks. “I’m a failure.” She says through grit teeth. I open my mouth to question her, but she presses on. “Amanda nearly died because I didn’t notice she was in trouble, she only survived because Prima had noticed and sent me after her…”

  An odd silence fell, but she wasn’t done there.

  “All my life, it’s been like that. A constant string of failures, brought on by my own inability…

  She looked ready to continue but cut herself off with a shake of her head.

  “And why does that matter?” She snaps back.

  “Because, it’s obvious you and Prima have an issue, and it’s better to have that resolved now.?”

  “And why wouldn’t I? She left us, worse, it was after one of us nearly died! She could do the same at any moment!”

  Grim merely nods, then looks to me, “And what do you think?” She asks.

  What did I think? Honestly… “I think, objectively, that, I did nothing wrong.”

  My words had Diana hissing, but Grim raised a hand, keeping her quiet and motioned for me to continue. So, I continued.

  “Sure, what I did was bad, but… my only concern is myself, my own safety, my own benefits. Cutting ties with you, leaving you behind was in my best interest.”

  “And what if it wasn’t? What if your little escapade had gotten you killed?” Grim asked.

  I shrug. “Then that’s on me. Should I cry over spilled milk? I made my decision, there’s no medicine for regret, as some like to say. Rather than focus on my mistakes, I’d much rather push myself further. Even if my choice ended in failure, so long as I’m alive, there’s always a path.”

  Diana was silent. She’d been listening, even if her eyes were huddled low. My words though, seemed funny to her as she began to laugh. A hollow, broken laugh.

  As she laughed, I noticed Tabitha prop open and eye, a frown on her face, but still, she didn’t move, but her grip tightened ever so slightly. Her body tensed, as if expecting trouble.

  “I see, so that’s it…” Diana said after she was done crying, her eyes red and swollen. “You’re just a piece of shit, aren’t you?” She looked at me with a mocking smile.

  “I am.” I said as calm as can be.

  She burst into another fit of laughter. “I can’t believe it!” She cried out. “Every, single time!” She cries again. Angry, frustrated, and yet… oddly, she seemed genuinely happy under it all.

  Grim gave me an odd smile. One I couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t until Diana spoke again that I understood.

  “I’ve been thinking about this wrong the whole time. Really, I have. You’re just like those people, leeches, scum that would do anything to make their lives better at the cost of others. You don’t care for the consequences, only how it benefits you.”

  It was here that Tabitha stood up, slamming the butt of her spear into the ground.

  “Alright, I think that’s enough of this little therapy session of yours Grim.”

  “I think your about right.” Grim said calmly while prepping herself. “I think I got the point across well enough.”

  I was confused, but… “Now, I assume you two are done with your little feud?” Tabitha asks.

  “Oh, I’m done alright. Now that I understand.” Diana said, though… it didn’t feel like this was over, far from it.

  “You do?” I asked.

  “Yes, I understand completely. I shouldn’t have judged you like you were a person Prima, no, you hardly even qualify as one. No, you’re a bug, an insect, no…” She pauses. “Your more like a poisonous snake, a viper. Useful, but dangerous.”

  Though her words were harsh, it didn’t seem like she hated me anymore. Or rather…

  “Pardon me, but… the hell does that mean?” I couldn’t help but voice my true thoughts.

  “It means that I shouldn’t be getting mad at an animal that can only follow its instincts. Should I be mad at a dog when it bites me? No, I should have anticipated it. I didn’t get it before, but now you do. I am the idiot. I’m the fool for trusting you in the first place. You’re just like the people in my past, I was just too stupid to realize, but you…”

  She pauses. Looked at me for a good moment before continuing.

  “At least you’re honest about what you are. And no matter what, I can’t hate you for that alone.”

  I… what? I glanced at the gathered party, everyone seemed to accept her explanation.

  “So, to our continued cooperation.” Diana offered a hand, further confounding me.

  Still, I took it. “Right, to our continued cooperation?” I said, more as a question. We shook and well, we were back at it.

  Somehow, our cooperation elevated to a whole new level. Diana even began anticipating my movements and I hers. As the number of shades increased, as did our own prowess. Groups died faster. Our progress became rather stunning.

  On doing so, however, our formation began to loosen as we picked up the pace. Moving from group to group, harvesting coins as we went.

  I had no idea what happened. Frankly, it seemed like our group dynamic would fall apart, but both Tabitha and Grim had the same smile. A smile like a pair of parents watching their children after resolving a fight.

  Like this wasn’t anything new. That this was a common occurrence, and… in hindsight, it made sense. Tabitha was a leader in the women’s home. A place filled with people, just like Diana and I. She probably had loads of experience breaking up fights or resolving issues, but Grim?

  How was it that Grim was so competent at it? Was she really just a police officer, or was there more to it? I’ve never had good experiences when it came to police ending disturbances…

  As my mind whirred, we continued forward. Lost in thought as I was, simply moving on instinct, none of us were entirely aware of just when I fell behind the group, I wasn’t far, but…

  In that moment, I saw something out of place. A splash of red amongst the dull grey of the stone, the blues of the water slowing about, the bronze piping above, and the brown wood of the mechanisms, or the dark grey iron fittings.

  A single red flower bloomed, peeking just outside a larger pipe sticking out of the wall. It was low to the ground, slightly hidden from prying eyes. Granting me just the right angle to get a look at it.

  It was odd. Seeing such a flower here. Not just that, but it was oddly luminescent. Beautiful, mesmerizing even. It dazed me for a moment, but with a shake of my head, I turned to ask about it…

  Then, there was a snap, a crack originating from my side, from that pipe with the flower inside. I jerked back, my head swung just in time to see a flower covered vine lashing out. I opened my mouth to let out a cry, a scream, a shout, something, only to have it cut off when the tendril wrapped around my leg and pulled me to the ground.

  All that left my lips was a short yelp. My gun flew from my grasp and hit the wet stone, misfiring in the process. The bullet sang out, and hit a pipe above, alerting the trio ahead of what was happening.

  Shouts of surprise broke out. However, I was on the ground and the vine lurched, pulling me towards the pipe. My hands scrabbled for purchase. Gloves hands dug at the unrelenting wet stone to no avail.

  My vision spun, my heart rammed into my ribs. I didn’t even have the presence of mind to reach for the ice. It all happened far too fast!

  Just when I thought I was done, the lip of the pipe came ever closer. My mind was already simulating what would happen when I was crammed into that tight space.

  Out of nowhere, a sword thrust into the tendril. A shrill scream rippled out, echoing through the countless pipes. The tendril wrapped around my leg suddenly let go and thrashed. I scrabbled away, panting and heaving. I looked back to see the tendril writhing on the ground, the red flowers burning away, the entire appendage burning to ash.

  Standing beside her sword, a sword that was imbedded into the stone, was Grim. Her eyes smoldered like coal thrown into a furnace. Her every breath came out with sparks of ash. Her lips were stretched taut into a hungry grin.

  Subtly, she raised her head and took in a sniff, like a dog looking for its quarry. Her red tongue snaked out, licking her lips. Her ears twitching.

  Then, she was on the move. The hunt was on.