Alecs POV
Alec smile slowly began to return at the reporters next few words. “Aghk, fine, but don’t think I won’t be following up.” He finished as he started to walk away.
“Thanks Mirage,” Alec said, his normal demeanor starting to emerge again. “You really saved my bacon, I knew I could count on you.”
Ae-Ri
Ae-Ri snorted loudly. “Don’t thank me, I’m impatient to find my friend. We need to search the Mexican places before we leave.” She eyed him closely—could everything the reporter said be true?
Opal POV
“But this isn’t a game to me,” Opal said, more sternly then she had meant to. “I just can’t agree to the ends justifying the means, because some people can justify anything.” She finished softly.
Winston’s POV
“I can stand.” Winston responded. He can’t know. No, there was no way Winston was going to let Remedy think he was even weaker than he already was. What if the boy left him here to rot? He was useless now anyways. Would anyone even come for him. “Can y’all come down the stairs or is it not safe anymore?”
“We’ll see about that,” Anthony muttered, watching anxiously as one of his strongest grotesques scaled a support beam and landed beside Winston. “Climb onto its back, alright?”
Sienna’s POV
“And that’s why they labelled me as a villain, darling. It’s discouraging to see that even you would cast me aside like this.” Sienna sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes for a moment.
Alecs POV
“You’re right.” Alec said, breathing in a sigh of relief, she seemed to have glossed over what the Reporter has said. “We’ll be coming up on this place right now, it called Panchi’s or something, in a couple of minutes.”
Winston’s POV
Winnie let out an alarmed yelp as a loud noise crashed down beside him. After listened to Anthony’s instructions, he realised it was a grotesque coming down to rescue him. He got to his feet, wobbling from fear as he stumbled towards the sound, reaching out blindly in hoping of finding the creature.
“I’m not casting you out.” Opal said quietly, “I just don’t believe that because something can be justified, that is right. That’s just too close to Machiavellianism. The belief that no matter what the ends will always justify the means.”
Anthony’s POV
A frown formed on Anthony’s lips as he watched Winston closely. He seemed to be fumbling around, as if immersed in darkness, but.. he was glowing brighter than ever before. Was it anxiety? Shock? Or something else.
Slowly but surely, the grotesque carried him back up the support beam and set him down a safe distance from the hole.
Alecs POV
“You’re right.” Alec said, breathing in a sigh of relief, she seemed to have glossed over what the Reporter has said. “We’ll be coming up on this place right now, it called Panchi’s or something, in a couple of minutes.”
Ae-Ri’s POV
“Lead the way..” she sighed, activating her comms.
“This is Mirage, reporting back to Mission Control. We’ve narrowed down the search and are heading to a potential location. Any updates?”
“Mirage, this is Sahara,” came the reply, and Ae-Ri couldn’t help but smile at the familiar voice. “No news. Keep us updated.”
Alecs POV
Alec laughed, “Alrighty, if you say so,” Alec said leading the way to the Mexican restaurant. “If you look, you can probably see the top of it there.” He pointed to the top of a few of the nearby buildings. “But you’ll have to take off your mask.”
Winston’s POV
Winston stood where he’d been set down, shaking still from shock. Act normal. Act normal. Act normal. He reinforced the thought, hoping he could pull this off until they got back. His baby blue eyes had become discoloured and were notably glazed over. He wasn’t even sure what to say, shock inhibiting his voice.
Sienna’s POV
“Do you believe I’m evil, Opal?” Sienna stared at the girl across the table from her, unsure of what to make of her.
Opals POV
“No, I don’t think your evil,” Opal said finishing the last of her fries. “But I don’t believe that you’re in the right either.”
Alecs POV
Alec laughed, “Alrighty, if you say so,” Alec said leading the way to the Mexican restaurant. “If you look, you can probably see the top of it there.” He pointed to the top of a few of the nearby buildings. “But you’ll have to take off your mask.”
Ae-Ri
“I can see fine through the visor,” Ae-Ri snapped, peering in the direction he’d pointed. After a moment, she lifted a hand to the metal dragonfly emblem on her chest and pressed it. The three-dimensional image slowly detached from her chestplate, unfolding itself until her little drone was hovering in the air in front of them. “Mexican restaurants?” She told it, “Check them all.”
“So you think I deserved to be imprisoned.” Sienna looked… hurt. She was starting to grow attached her little hero, but of course, fate would never let that happen.
Winston’s POV
Winston stood where he’d been set down, shaking still from shock. Act normal. Act normal. Act normal. He reinforced the thought, hoping he could pull this off until they got back. His baby blue eyes had become discoloured and were notably glazed over. He wasn’t even sure what to say, shock inhibiting his voice.
Anthony’s POV
The healer studied him closely, taking a step closer. “Did you break anything?” he asked, squeezing his voice dry of emotion.
Alecs POV
Alec watched in awe as the little drone went off to search the restaurant, “Wow, how long before I get one of those.” He joked, watching as it flew in. “And wait, why didn’t you use that in the first place?”
Winston’s POV
The sound of Remedy’s cold voice made Winston nervous. The other boy was probably onto him. Looking for a reason to leave him behind. Winnie shook his head, wiping the blood off his forehead. He didn’t trust himself to speak without bursting into tears.
Opals POV
“No!” Opal practically shouted, before lowering her voice again. “I just don’t believe that you should be doing, what you’re doing.”
Anthony’s POV
Anthony narrowed his eyes and removed his mask. Though he wasn’t exactly a doctor, he’d trained himself in the healing arts. And Winston’s eyes were too discoloured and unfocused to be in a normal state. Slowly, he raised his arm. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
Alecs POV
Alec watched in awe as the little drone went off to search the restaurant, “Wow, how long before I get one of those.” He joked, watching as it flew in. “And wait, why didn’t you use that in the first place?”
Ae-Ri sidestepped the question and crossed her arms. “You were supposed to be leading us to the restaurant?”
Alecs POV
“Yeah, yeah.” Alec mumbled. “Ya know, all work, no play, make Mirage a very mean lady.” Alec said, sticking his tongue at her as they reached the front of the restaurant.
Sienna’s POV
“Easy, sweetheart. Don’t stress yourself.” Sienna replied, a bit concerned for Opal. “I’m taking a big risk staying her with you without my mask, you understand that right? I trust you.”
Alecs POV
“Yeah, yeah.” Alec mumbled. “Ya know, all work, no play, make Mirage a very mean lady.” Alec said, sticking his tongue at her as they reached the front of the restaurant.
Ae-Ri
Ae-Ri didn’t dignify the statement with a reply, instead remaining silent and watching Flicker’s camera from the corner of her visor.
Anthony’s POV
Anthony narrowed his eyes and removed his mask. Though he wasn’t exactly a doctor, he’d trained himself in the healing arts. And Winston’s eyes were too discoloured and unfocused to be in a normal state. Slowly, he raised his arm. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
Winston’s POV
Winston’s face turned red as the dreaded question came up. Instead of answering he remained silent, unsure of how to escape this situation.
Opals POV
Opal didn’t know what to say, but even before she could say anything an all to familiar drone appeared.
Anthony’s POV
Anthony exhaled slowly. He was probably afraid to tell the truth, afraid that he’d punish or discard him. So instead of letting his exasperation leak into his voice, he softened it. “Winston, I need your answer. How many fingers can you see?”
Alec’s POV
“So, what’s happening?” Alec asked, waiting for her to finish standing there so they could enter the restaurant.
“I see her!” Ae-Ri said suddenly, referring first to Flicker’s camera, then to the familiar figure seated in the restaurant in front of them. Without waiting for Alec, she pushed the door open. “Broadcast!”
Sienna’s POV
Sienna clicked her tongue as Mirage appeared. “I trusted you.” Hurt flashed in her eyes and she made no attempt to disguise it as she got up from the table abruptly.
“”Alec’s POV””
Alec was shocked at her leaving him behind, this could be his chance to escape… then he remembered his promise to not escape until after they had her friend. With a groan he followed her into the restaurant.
