Anya: "There... I’ve done all I could."

  Anya stood over Faya’s unconscious body, her hands trembling as she wiped the sweat from her brow. The supplies left by the doctor had been enough to stabilize her condition, but not to cure her.

  Anya: "She needs a proper antidote, though... Without it, I’m afraid she won’t recover."

  Virno and Jargen exchanged a glance.

  Virno: "Does that mean...?"

  Anya nodded grimly.

  Anya: "Without the antidote, I don’t think she has more than a week... Maybe two."

  Jargen: "Damn it..."

  Virno: "One week is plenty, Jargen. We have to stay positive -- we’ll find it."

  Jargen looked at Virno, surprised by the young man’s optimism.

  Jargen: "Yeah... You’re right. Got a good outlook on things, kid."

  He patted Virno on the back, but Anya’s concerned eyes lingered on her son.

  Anya: "He’s been trying so hard lately... Maybe too hard."

  She glanced at the fresh bandages wrapped around Virno’s torso.

  Virno: "Mother, c’mon..."

  He turned away, clearly embarrassed. Jargen laughed heartily.

  Jargen: "Don’t you worry about a thing, Lady Anya! We’ll be keeping your boy safe from now on. He’s one of us already. Well, you both are, really!"

  Anya smiled faintly, bowing her head in gratitude.

  Anya: "Thank you, Jargen... It’s good to know we’re not alone."

  Jargen: "Don’t mention it. You’ve proven you’re good people. If you’re ever in trouble, you can count on us around here to help."

  Virno raised an eyebrow.

  Virno: "Even people like Tyssa...?"

  Jargen: "Bah, don’t worry about her! She’s been through a lot... But she knows you never hurt family."

  Virno: "If you say so..."

  Anya tilted her head slightly.

  Anya: "Tyssa...? Isn’t she the girl who showed us around the orphanage? Do you not trust her, Virno?"

  Virno: "She seems to like Cabdan a little too much, is all."

  Jargen shook his head with a sigh.

  Jargen: "It’s complicated... But Tyssa’s a kind girl, deep down. Don’t worry about her, alright?"

  Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed down the hall, accompanied by raised voices.

  Rel (in the hall): "You have got to be kidding me! Leaving her alone in this state?! What were you thinking?!"

  Nurse (in the hall): "She’s already being treated -- don’t go in there!"

  Rel burst through the door, Punjo close behind him. His anger dissipated slightly when he saw Virno, Jargen, and Anya gathered by Faya’s bedside.

  Rel: "Oh... It’s you guys. So the person treating her is Miss Anya...?"

  Anya nodded.

  Anya: "I’ve done what I could, but without the antidote, she won’t survive..."

  Virno crossed his arms.

  Virno: "We’ve got a week to find it. Any leads on where Cabdan might be?"

  Rel and Punjo shared a knowing look, then explained what they had uncovered about Cabdan’s whereabouts.

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  Virno: "That bastard... Taking care of Barr but leaving Faya to die? That’s sick...!"

  Rel: "I’m certain Cabdan is behind this. If we want that antidote, we’ll have to find him."

  The group nodded in agreement.

  Punjo: "So... what’s the plan, fellas?"

  Jargen: "The sooner we find him, the better. We should split up and patrol the places he’s known to frequent until we spot him."

  Rel and Punjo exchanged uneasy glances.

  Virno: "What's the matter, you two?"

  Rel: "Well, it's just..."

  Punjo: "One of the places we checked is..."

  Rel hesitated, then spat it out.

  Rel: "His prostitution ring. Underage prostitution, to be exact."

  Jargen clenched his fists, but his expression was one of grim resignation. Virno and Anya were visibly horrified.

  Virno: "That's... I don't even..."

  Anya: "I had no idea..."

  Virno stood abruptly, his fists shaking.

  Virno: "That's it... Cabdan's got to go."

  Anya: "Virno!"

  Virno: "Mother, that man is the reason why everyone's lives are so miserable around here! He's most likely the reason Faya's dying...!"

  Jargen: "As much as it sounds terrible to say lady Anya, it's not something the people in the slums haven't thought of before... Killing Cabdan would put an end to a lot of our worries. But he's a resourceful man... We would never manage."

  Rel: "That’s not true, Jargen. We’ve been too afraid... I myself included. But if we all band together, we can do it -- no matter how resourceful he may be. There has to be a way...!"

  Punjo: "I do agree with ya Rel, but what way would that be, exactly...? Even rallying folks to fight 'im'll be tough. A lotta people depend on Cabdan’s coin to survive."

  Rel: "So what's the alternative? To keep living in poverty as he kills those of us who inconvenience him the most...? Are we really choosing to live under his boot than try to be free?! As a son, I would gladly join my father and my mother as they try to free themselves from his tyranny. Even if that means we might starve, or that we might meet a worse fate... To live as his slaves isn't a better life."

  Jargen: "Not everyone thinks like that, Rel..."

  Virno stepped forward, his voice steady.

  Virno: "Well, I do. I'm with Rel."

  Anya: "Young man, you cannot --"

  Virno: "Mother... I must. You know it's not right to keep letting him do this. It could be me laying on that bed instead of Faya, or Rel... Or you. It could be any of us. Because of Cabdan so many people lose their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers... It has to stop. We have to make it stop. Together. I cannot back down...! I will not."

  Punjo stood as well, grinning slightly.

  Punjo: "Well, I ain't lettin' ya young'uns try to do that by yourselves. Count me in, but you can bet I'm stoppin' ya from doing anything stupid!"

  Jargen shakes his head.

  Jargen: "You kids have no idea what you're getting yourselves into... But I admire your drive. If Punjo is in, so am I."

  Anya’s worry deepened.

  Anya: "But what exactly are you planning to do...?! You'll just get yourselves killed!"

  Virno: "Right now, we just need to focus on getting people on our side. When there's enough of us... Then we can do some real damage."

  Rel: "And there's no better place to hurt Cabdan than his prostitution ring. Most of his income comes from there. If we wreck the place, he's sure to get mad. And if he gets mad... "

  Virno: "He'll end up letting his guard down. When everyone is busy destroying his income streams, and while he's busy trying to deal with all of that..."

  Rel: "We strike. We use the confusion to our advantage."

  Virno and Rel look at each other and smile.

  Jargen: "Well, well... Look at you."

  Punjo: "Heheh! Almost seems like we do stand a chance after all, eh Jargen?"

  Jargen: "One step at a time though... Punjo and I know some folk who long for the day their lives are free of Cabdan's greedy hands, I'm sure we can get them to help us out."

  Punjo nods.

  Rel: " Alright, let's get organized then. First things first: we split up and look for Cabdan, since getting Faya's antidote is the top priority right now. Virno and I can scout the arena, can you two keep the prostitution ring under watch...?"

  Jargen: "Leave it to us. You better get your best suit on, Punjo... Heard they won't let us anywhere near if we look like poor people!"

  Punjo laughs.

  Punjo: "I got yer suit right 'ere..."

  He makes an obscene gesture with his hand. Jargen laughs.

  Punjo: "We'll see what we can do. Leave it ta us, boys."

  Rel: "It's settled. We'll meet back here tomorrow evening to discuss what we managed to achieve. Does that sound good?"

  The three of them nod, but Anya sighed, shaking her head.

  Anya: "I don't like this one bit... And who will be feeding you? How will you be earning enough to even survive if you're out doing all these things...?"

  Jargen and Punjo look at each other and laugh.

  Jargen: "Well, you don't need to worry about me and Punjo, lady Anya! Plenty of folk would gladly share their food with us for some heaving lifting and handy work, we'll manage."

  Anya: "I was more concerned with the young ones, here..."

  Rel: "My family runs a convenience store, we have plenty of food and other supplies there. I'm sure they won't mending helping you two out for a while, until things get better around here."

  Virno: "See, mother? It all works out...!"

  Anya shakes her head.

  Anya: "I appreciate the gesture young Rel, but I cannot accept it as it is. Let me at least pay you with what I can get from working around here... It may not be much, but one day we will cover all the expenses we may cause you. I promise."

  Rel:" Oh don't worry, miss Anya! It's fine, really...!"

  Anya: "I insist."

  Virno looks at Rel, shaking his head slightly as if to say it's pointless to argue.

  Rel: "Fine... It's a deal, then!"

  Virno: "Alright! Let's get to it!"

  As the group dispersed, each step they took carried the weight of what lay ahead.

  For years, Cabdan had ruled over their lives, his greed and cruelty choking any hope of freedom. But tonight, a spark had been lit -- a fragile, flickering ember of rebellion that could either ignite a roaring flame or be snuffed out by the darkness.

  Each of them knew the risks, but in their hearts, a single truth burned bright: they could no longer stand idly by. For Faya, for themselves, and for the future, they would fight.

  Together.