It was dark. Incredibly dark. We were standing amidst a benighted world of which we knew very little. But we weren't complete fools and we did know something else very well. The figures in the darkness; standing in front of us, were Nate and his gang. That thing we knew very well was that we were in yet another predicament we could no longer avoid.

Hanso was right.

And that meant we could have avoided Nate and the others but we stupidly chose not to just for the sake of comfort and reassured safety. We should've listened to him. I wanted to listen to him; and I was gravitating toward his reasoning—but after he had just made it a compulsion that we went and stormed off, I simply pursued his path. 

Miguel, Claudia and even Hanso—were all silent. The quietude did not mesh well with my internal world resonant with earsplitting and thundering thoughts. The air given off by each and everyone of us was all but postive. It was tense. However on Nate's side of the battlefield; it was all just malice and malice ... and oh ... malice. 

It was either we were going to be attacked with the intentions of just hurting us or the intentions of robbing us or rather the intentions of murdering us. I sincerely hoped the latter wasn't in their plans.

'Should they attack us; we'll fight ... right?' I asked myself. 'Would we be able to fight back? The four of us? I don't have an ability, and I don't have my metal bat. Claudia's ability would be useless in combat if she doesn't have a weapon like a gun. And besides that, her ability isn't unsealed yet. I guess it's up to Hanso and Miguel'

However, I had not a clue what abilities were in their possessions. The latter made me uncomfortable. And daunted I became after trying to estimate the the count of men on Nate's side. How many of them were there? 

What did they want? 

Did all of them have abilities? 

Clearly, the odds weren't in our favor. 

I had to comply with them. 

I furrowed my brows. "What do you want now?" I asked. The hate clear as crystals in my voice. 

Suddenly there was light on Nate's side. Apparently, members of the gang provided this light for him. He walked toward me; pomposity even in his gait. He knew he was the one winning tonight, and there was no wiping that smirk off his arrogant face. 

"You know what I want. The boys and I," he said, "we don't really find time to go looting. We're simply too lazy for that. We were gonna do it tonight, but then, thanks to the heavens, we encountered you guys. Surely, you were sent by God," he placed a hand on his chin, "maybe I should start believing the guy for a change."

"That didn't answer the question. What do you want?" Miguel demanded. 

Nate stopped. "Those bags on your backs won't happen to be filled food, will they?"

I clicked my tongue. "That's what you want?" I furrowed my brows, "It's not fair at all. We aren't working for you. You aren't our lord. This isn't the Middle Ages—wake up. We have no other choice but to do as you say tonight. We are outnumbered and tired and blinded.

"So you will get your food. But there is no way you're gonna get all of it. I'd like to negotiate with you. But I'm the one calling the shots. Since you have power over us for the time being, you will get your food. But we're only giving a third to you. If you oppose this offer, I'll be more than willing to fast for a month or two—y'know, just forget about all the looting. I've been getting out of shape recently. Deal?"

Nate cackled. "I like you. And that's why I'm gonna accept that offer. This invisible contract won't last between us forever. Because I'm sure you know I can just not accept the offer and still force you—make you—loot for me under pressure. And should you decide not to loot for me, I'll just hurt you. But I accept the offer for now. This contract will last for a month. I'd suggest you get stronger within this month because there's gonna be a lot of fighting to do."

I furrowed my brows. Hanso and Claudia just had to give them a third of the—

Suddenly, Hanso and Claudia started toward Nate, walking right past me. I watched as they walked past Miguel as well, and they continued toward Nate. They stopped in front of Nate, and took off their backpacks one by one. And they handed them all to him. 

"What? What is this?" Nate asked. "Came to your senses already? This means you're ready to join us? Took you long enough."

"Don't accept that stupid offer," Hanso said, "they're hard of hearing. They don't listen. They'll simply forget about the offer when the time comes. Don't put your trust and loyalty in them."

Claudia perked up. "I agree with my babe. Hey, we're gonna be going to your gang's block, right? Does this mean Hanso and I get a bedroom for ourselves? Real sex!?" 

"It does indeed," Nate said, retaining his smirk. 

I watched—my eyes widened in shock—Hanso and Claudia fall in the group of gangsters, and meshed perfectly with them. They chose to be on their team. 

I felt my heart thundering in my chest. Blood also thundering in my ears. This blood boiled. The vapor from this boiled blood escaped like steam through my nostrils and ears. I fumed. Rage festered. 

"HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO US!!!" I snapped. 

All eyes fell on me. Everyone had their eyes on me. I tried to neglect all the silent. Somehow, despite of the darkness, I saw them looking at me. 

"How can you just betray us like that? You have no reason to."

Why was my heart thumping so fast? The more I heeded its speed—from fear—the faster it got. 

Was this how Jin felt after being betrayed? 

"YOU CAN'T JUST JOIN THEM! WHY ARE YOU BEING SUCH A PUSSY?"

I didn't like swearing. But in that moment, I felt like I was inarticulate. I couldn't express myself. 

The burn in my chest—it was heartburn stemmed by rage. I felt as though I was going to get a heart attack. And the latter was likely. 

"NO REASON, HANSO! NO REASON FOR BETRAYING US!"

Hanso was standing there in the distance in one moment but was right in front of me in the other. He punched me about ten times in a single second; his hands appearing as distorted blurs. The wind was knocked out of me. I doubled over. Hanso then hit me a knee in the head. I quickly collapsed, the back of my head slamming into the floor. 

A speed ability. That's what he had. 

I felt a sudden dizziness. My head hurt. But it also felt light. Hanso, towering over me, fell into sight. He looked down at me, and spat on my face. Mucus landed on the left lense of my glasses. Suddenly, that scene replayed in my head. Did I see it before? Was this Deja Vu? It was like a vision. 

Hanso scowled. "No reason? No reason for betraying you? You little stupid fuck, I had all the reason to betray you! Are you that selfish not to see that?"

"W-what did I ever do to you?" My eyes grew wet.

"Everything," Hanso blurted, "and that includes betraying me. You betrayed my trust. You opposed me in every single way—never listened to me, not even once. You and Miguel are just too ignorant and naive for my liking. You won't get far in this world at all. Maybe you should've just died out there in the old one. You're not fit for this place."

"Why? Why did you choose to betray us like this?"

"That's because our relationship wouldn't get far. I was the only one who didn't break the rules like they didn't exist. I'm the only one you didn't listen to. I'm the only one with common sense, apparently. I am the strongest amongst you. It never felt right following you around when you're clearly not cut out for leading. Give me a reason why I shouldn't have betrayed you?"

I frowned. "I-"

"Exactly," he blurted, "you can't even think of a reason. I ... I really liked you two," he frowned, a nuance taking his face, "I thought we could've been best of friends. I guess I thought wrong."

Suddenly, tears started flowing down my face. "What are you gonna do now? Just walk away from

us? Bully people everyday like them? Take our loot every night? Are you seriously joining them?"

Hanso heaved. "Yes, I'm going to do all of those things. They're better than you, after all. They have a leader—one who knows what he's doing." He walked away, leaving me right there on the floor.

Thousands of images flashed through my mind all relating to Hanso. And then eventually, I saw a vision of his death.