Andun sat behind the counter in the bookstore, looking out the rge windows facing the street. Chisay and Rey were in the back, resting. He’d decided that Chisay could be trusted, and there weren’t any soldiers outside, so he was simply waiting for Zan to return or reach him through the earpiece connecting them.

  A girl stopped outside the gss door, then opened it and walked inside, ignoring the closed sign.

  “We’re closed,” Andun said.

  “I know,” she replied, unzipping her purse.

  “Wait, I’ve seen ya…” Andun began, remembering a certain patient he’d had two years prior. But he never finished the thought.

  The girl brought something out of her purse and leapt across the counter. Andun reached for his axe, which was leaning against the counter on the floor, but he was too slow and the girl nded a hit on his neck. Immediately, a shock ran through his body and he colpsed to the floor.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you,” she said. “Just wait here until I’m done.”

  She put the taser back in her purse and pulled out a thin cord, which she used to quickly bind his arms and legs. She gagged and hid him behind the counter, then stood up and headed further into the store.

  ***

  Exhausted, Rey y on the couch and watched Chisay pace back and forth near the door.

  “I’m worried about my parents,” Chisay finally said.

  “What do you mean?” Rey asked.

  “Well, my father can’t get around without a hoverchair, and my mother has Dementia. With the power out, I don’t know if they’re doing all right.”

  “You couldn’t get treatment for them?”

  “No, I barely make enough as it is to support them, and ever since they brought the new doctor in, the prices have only gone up.”

  “You want to go check on them?” Rey asked.

  “Well-”

  The door behind Chisay opened and a woman entered the room. Rey started, but the woman had already grabbed Chisay from behind and held a knife to her neck.

  For a moment, Chisay had been startled and froze up, but now she began to freak out.

  “W-wh-w-” She instinctively started to raise her hands to her neck and turn her head to see who it was, but the woman behind her was faster.

  “Don’t move! Keep your hands in front and don’t turn around, got it?! Don’t move or I’ll kill you!”

  She pressed the edge of the bde to her neck, and Chisay let out a small sound of fear as she obeyed. Rey was sitting up on the couch and now unsteadily got to her feet in shock.

  “Who are you?!” she asked, holding her hands up in front of her. “Don’t hurt her, please,” Rey continued, trying to sound calm.

  “It’s fine, I don’t want to hurt her. I’m sorry. You’re the problem. I can’t help it, I just need you to die,” she said, holding Chisay tightly while staring at Rey with a glint in her eyes.

  “What are you talking about?! I haven’t done anything to you! Calm down, please!”

  “SHUT UP! Stop! Please.” Her bun had come undone, and hair spilled across her left shoulder. She was constantly shifting her position, fidgeting her free hand, and moving her feet.

  Rey realized that she wasn’t fully sane. Chisay felt cold sweat break out as she tried to keep still. Her legs were shaking, the strength gone from her knees. She clenched and unclenched her trembling hands as she tried to keep her composure, which was quickly breaking.

  “What’s your name?” Rey tried asking.

  “Mica.”

  If she could diffuse the situation, or keep her talking until Andun or Zan returned, they might be able to save Chisay.

  “Wait, how did you get past Andun?” Rey asked, realizing which door she’d come through. “You didn’t do anything to him, did you?”

  “He’s fine. But he won’t be coming to save you.” she replied. “He was my doctor, you know? And for the rest of my family. And him. But that was a long time ago, and he left me too.”

  “Why are you angry at me?”

  “You’re the reason I lost everything. Everything, everything, it was taken because she’s better.” she replied, anger permeating her words.

  “What? I’ve never talked with you before,” said Rey in confusion. “I don’t-”

  “That doesn’t matter! I hate it, I hate you! Ever since I saw you I can't get you out of my head. You’re the same as the others, the same as her.” she said, shifting the position of the knife on Chisay’s neck. Chisay shut her eyes tightly, her face gone pale.

  “I don’t understand,” Rey said. “What did I do?”

  “It’s not what you did, but what you have,” she said loathingly.

  “What?”

  “You’re at fault! It’s not fair, I can’t help it. I wanted to be loved too! I have to humiliate you, or I won’t be able to stop thinking about it. Now take off your clothes!” “Wait-”

  “Now! Do it now! I want you to lose everything like I did before you die. I’ll kill you, like the others! I’ve killed three people so far, but it’s not my fault! If I don’t do it I won’t be able to get you out of my brain! If you do what I say, I’ll let her go.”

  Chisay slowly opened her eyes and looked at Rey.

  “Rey…run,” she said weakly. “Get Andun and-”

  “Shut up!” Mica yelled. “Or I’ll kill you too. I could do that, you know?”

  Chisay began to cry, tears welling up and falling down her cheeks.

  “What are you waiting for?!”

  “I don’t want anyone to die!” Chisay said, her heart feeling like it might implode.

  “Just do it!” Mica pressed the bde tightly to the side of her neck, and a thin trickle of blood ran down from the cut she had just opened.

  “Okay, okay, I’ll do it!” Rey said, pulling her top over her head. She tossed it to the ground, and began to take off her shoes one by one, as slowly as she could. The only thing she could think to do right now was to buy time.

  “Hurry up!”

  She slowly slid her pants off, and y them on the floor. Now dressed only in her undergarments, she stood and faced Mica. Chisay was trying to stifle her sobs, and for some reason Mica had begun to cry as well.

  “Why’d you stop?” she asked. “Kee-agh!”

  A knife had pierced her throat from behind, the emerging tip glistening with blood. Her eyes went wide in shock, and the knife she was holding fell to the floor. Chisay stumbled forward, holding her neck as she crawled away from Mica.

  The knife was pulled back, and Mica clutched her throat, choking on her own blood. She tried to speak, to say something, even if it was only a scream, but all that came out was a strange garling sound. She toppled to the side, her body hitting the floor where it continued to shudder as she gasped, failing to take her st breaths.

  “Now I’ve finally… lost my life… too…”

  The woman behind her shook the blood from her bde before wiping it on her gray cloak. Then she looked at the two remaining women in the room.

  Rey stood half-dressed while Chisay was on the ground with her back to the couch, a traumatized wreck.

  ***

  Zan arrived at the military headquarters, which now stood deserted. The entrance was wide open, the guards nowhere to be seen. As he drew closer he saw that the doors had been forced open, the locks broken and twisted. It looked as though someone had cut through it with a bde. Inside, only darkness awaited.

  Nevertheless, compelled by his urge to find out what the hell was going on, Zan entered the building.