The Wastelands

So Lilia sang with all her might. Right away, she felt a tidal wave crashing down on her. Her body wrenched from one direction to the next.

'No, don't fight it, Just change it slightly. Make it my own.'

Her singing changed, boarding along with the current, but Lilia had another problem. Her exhausted body couldn't handle the strain. Feeling her skin ripping as light poured out, spreading, devouring her.

'No, this isn't what I want.; But Lilia couldn't stop singing. If she stopped now, she'd be dead either way.

Then she heard drumming. Terran. Cello. Tessa. Both were in a building of some kind, together, that's good. A violin. Kay. Burned bodies surrounded him. July was praying nearby. Dancing, Druid. She was in a dark tunnel somewhere close. Why so close? The image was swept away as a base strummed into play. So many instruments came in one after the other. And Lilia took them all in and shaped the song, then weaving in with the Protectors raging water-fall. Instead of crashing onto the rocks below, it transformed into a river than a spring. Afterward, all that remained were mere drops.

Lilia felt so exhilarated. Never had she experienced anything like that before. She felt so connected, so, so…. 'But, no. I can't think about that now. As Lilia took off her blindfold, I needed to think about the looming obstacle before me.'

Lilia opened her eyes to find the enormous Bird way too close for comfort. 'Did something go wrong? I wasn't expecting to kill it. Besides, I could hear its heartbeat. But at least something should have happened, anything. Did that fox woman lie to me?'

Lilia almost missed how still the Protector was with all those thoughts racing through my head. Not until it began to sway. Lilia could only watch as the colossal creature tinted ever closer to her with her eyes widened. "Crap, my life." Then Vulture tumbled right on top of her.

***

"We don't need your help," Bryson's answer was immediate, crossing his arms. "We can get out on our own."

"Good luck with that. Without a guide, you could get lost for days." Jared Cranes snorted. "By the way. Why did you let that woman live? Won't she blab your secret to anyone who would listen?"

The way that Jared was looking at Druid and Bryson made Druid all too aware that he knew that they were Lumeye. Not surprising.

Bryson's eyes frosted over as he stepped forward. "Listen here…"

Druid stepped between them, with her hand on Bryson's ċhėst. Staring up at Jared. "Whether she does or not, it's my issue, not yours." The Headmistress may have more say about letting Brit go, but she isn't here, so I'm going to do what I want. But, Druid thought, wincing, 'I have to leave the Headmistress to Bryson. Sorry Bryson, but I won't go back on my promise no matter what.' "Besides, what if she does?" Druid smiled widely. "More fun for me, then."

Statson slapped his forehead with a groan.

Bryson spoke up. "I highly doubt that a girl from the lower part of Towa would be as much of a threat than say…." He slowly looked Jared up and down. "A decorated Police Detective, perhaps?"

Statson got up. "No use arguing," Statson walked by Jared. "Tat-man, if you're done stalling, let's get moving."

"Statson…" Bryson protested.

"We have no guide," Statson interrupted. "And he's offering,"

"But he didn't even tell us what he wanted from us in return," Bryson stated, with his eyes narrowed.

Statson eyed Jared. "I got the feeling he'll tell us sooner or later."

Jared held his hands out in surrender. I'll tell you up, to a certain point. But if we stay here, yeah, it won't be good for any of us."

Bryson came up to Statson and whispered. "I don't like this."

"Neither do I, but we have no choice."

"I could find out whats he hiding," Bryson wriggling his gloved fingers.

"No, let's wait and see." Statson denied. "Besides Tat-man's trained soldier, I don't think you'll get the drop on him again. Especially when he knows what you are."

"I reluctantly agree, he's acting casual, but he's never let us out of his sight once," Bryson confirmed, then pondered. "Maybe…"

Statson whipped his head around with surprise. "Ice boy, you caught that? I'm kind of impressed. And what the hell happened to trip over your big head all the time? Are you the real Ice Boy?"

Bryson's eyes narrowed, but before Bryson could lash out his outrage. Jared spoke up. "Are we going to wait all day or stay here and die of lack of oxygen?"

"Okay, okay, hold your horses," Statson growled out. "Coming on, no use molly-gallying." As he walked toward Jared.

Bryson was about to follow but realized that Druid was still standing, all too quiet. "Druid, are you okay."

Druid was looking off into space; then, she swayed back and forth. "Can't you hear that? The Wasteland's song, it's so beautiful? I so want to dance right now." When she showed the confusion on Bryson's face, she smiled, grabbed his hand and pulled him along, skipping. "It's nothing important. Come on, Statson waiting."

Druid's smile turned into a frown. The music was beautiful, but she felt like she was standing against something way tougher than herself. And it had Lilia's touch all through it. "Lilia, what are you doing?" Druid whispered. She knew that her group wasn't the only ones in danger. With Lilia in that state, then the twins were undoubtedly were as well. And Druid didn't like that, not one bit.

As the group walked even further into the dark, dank tunnels. A pair of boots jumped down from the shadows and walked after them.

***

"Watch out," Jared quickly grabbed Statson, just as his lead foot stepped on air, and promptly pulled Statson back.

"Geeze, that was too close." Statson wheezed and gave Jared a grudging look. "Thanks."

"No problem," Jared answered gruffly. "There's a path on the side, so watch your step."

"Yes, watch your step, old man," Bryson chuckled as he strolled past.

"Bryson, "Druid scolded before stepping onto that narrowed. Beyond that was what looked like an old train tunnel, and she took a deep breath. "More air, yes."

"There's a working ventilation system installed, so no worries about air," Jared replied.

"Why," Druid inquired with a tilt of her head.

Suddenly a truck, then another, came rolling by, and instinctively they all flattened up against the wall.

"Because of that."

"Good to know," Statson breathed.

"Stay close to the wall, and you won't be seen." As they started to move again. Jared came up to Statson. "So, how's it like to be a glorified babysitter."

"Better than having a knife in my back," Statson growled.

"Ha, ha, just saying," Jared laughed it off.

There was silence for a time when Statson broke it. "So why, why did you do it?"

"Do what exactly?" He played along.

"Don't play with me like that." Statson shook his head. "You're the last person I ever think that would have…."

"Don't even start." Jared glared. "You won't like the answer."

Druid was very fed up with the situation. "Bryson, tell them."

Bryson looked amused at the whole situation. "Tell them what?"

Druid just stared. "We won't get anywhere like this."

"Fine," Bryson sighed and mumbled. "Take my fun away." He paused. "Colten Jared Crane, age 4, missing. Birth mother Vanessa Crane, age 47, deceased…."

Before Bryson could finish, Jared rounded on him, his face red. "You fuċkɨnġ Lumeye, I'll kill you."

Statson was between before Jared even got close. "Stand down." Jared kept pushing. "Stand down, or I'll throw you off. Clear!"

"Clear." Jared relented.

"Good." Statson, let's go. "Ice boy, tell me now."

"That vision I got from Det. Crane about that boy, remember? Of course, it could have been nothing, but I don't like things unanswered. So I looked into it. The Detective didn't have any siblings, but he did have a cousin, Vanessa, and she had a son." Bryson shrugged. "It still just speculation, but that reaction said it all."

Druid stared up at Jared. "Colten, how long did they have him?"

After a moment of silence, Jared finally broke down. "I don't know, Vanessa Crane disappeared a long time ago, but when I found out she was dead I…." Suddenly a shot rang out, and blood spread on his ċhėst.

"Tat-man," Statson shouted, keeping the man from falling over the edge. "Damn't"

Druid spotted someone with gray hair disappearing in a puff of smoke. Someone he most definitely recognized.

Bryson whispered. "Talon." And that was when all hell broke loose.

Tunnel Base

Shadow and Andres were sneakily weaving through one area to the next, trying to stick to the shadows as much as possible. Still, the further they go in, the creepier when metal and steel military base turned into a dungeon. There was a lot of mȯȧning coming from every door.

Andres looked at Shadow. "Do I need to ask?"

"All dead, very! Except for…" Shadow walked down the aisle, dismissing the mȯȧning and groaning like he was strolling through the compound. Until he stopped and turned to the left. Andres followed him and looked inside. There was a boy, no more than four years old, hiding underneath a cot, with his hands tightly clamped around his ears and his eyes shut so tight that tears were running down from the corners. "What are we going to do with him?"

"We need to stick to the mission?" Andres swallowed; taste like sour grapes, regret. "And taking him along would be nothing but a burden."

"I totally agree, I feared you'll have some maternal instincts, but thankfully that isn't the case." Shadow complimented, pleased. Even though Andres had some misgivings, Shadow knew that Andres was like him in many ways. "But the question still stands. Kill him."

Andres looked like she was warring with herself, but… "Yes." Andres agreed, nodded to the bȧrėly lucid boy; he didn't even respond to the sound of their voices. "We can't just leave him here. The way he is now, it's probably the most humane thing to do."

"I concur. Phantom." He called. His Phantoms materialized. But something was nagging at him, an annoying reminder. "Wait, what would Lee think? I don't think she'll approve."

Andres, too stilled. "Crap…despite how Headmistress Weatherly appears, I don't think she'll approve either." Stared at each other and sighed. "I guess we'll have to save the kid."

"Damn. How naïve."

"Very." But a smile played across her lips.

Then all the doors suddenly unlocked, including the boy. And the mȯȧning sounds became frenzied.

"Phantom grab the kid," Shadow ordered, and he turned to Andres, "Take him and go! My Phantoms will take you to Stella and Rachel."

"And you?"

"I'll stay behind. "Shadow expanded his shadows, slamming the Zombies against the wall. "Go now."

As Andres took off running, the Phantoms carrying the child were close behind. Shadow stood still in the middle of the chaos, but his mind wasn't on the Phantoms, but the white-haired youth, standing right on the edge of the chaos, his eyes glowing. "So you decided to show up." Shadow grinned. "Finally."

***

Ruined City

One would only hear the heavy breathing of a sleeping Turkey Vulture at the nest. Then, suddenly on the edge of the nest, a filthy Lilia finally pushed threw, and stumbled and fell onto hard pavement. "Victory." Her voice was hoarse.

Then she heard clapping. "Very entertaining," A voice interrupted, and Lilia stilled. "Too bad it had to end.." A boot came arrowing toward her face.