Art stood before the booth Kane was supposed to be in.
Her face tightened.
The hallway door slid open, Alde standing in the frame.
His first step.
His veins radiated a golden glow.
His second.
A golden flag pole manifested in his hand, resting on his shoulder.
The flag waved with rhythm.
The passengers sat tall.
Their posture straightened.
Their feet aligned.
Their shoulders pulled back.
Steam puffed in pattern.
The gears synchronized beneath them.
Elaina returned and stood behind Alde.
Her eyes fixed on the flag, her torso swayed in sync.
Art noticed the sudden change in Elaina's behavior.
She followed her line of sight.
"Elaina," she raised her fists, "cover your eyes."
Elaina's elbows bent, then her hands reached her eyes.
Her movement stopped.
Art observed.
She moved towards Alde.
Left.
Right.
Pause.
Art slowly exhaled.
Alde changed his posture.
His flagpole pointed in her direction.
First is left.
Alde pulled his arm back.
Next is right.
Adle thrust his pole towards the location.
No connection.
Art was already beneath it, her eyes closed.
She dropped her guard and swung.
Alde tilted his pole to defend, giving him some distance from Art.
Alde twitched.
The flag still swayed.
Art stepped forward.
Alde readied himself again.
Left.
A shift.
The gears clicked at different intervals.
The steam was constant.
Art's hands twitched.
Alde turned away.
Malice.
His face tightened.
Something else.
A hollow hunger.
His flag halted.
Not fear.
Not defeat.
Protocol.
Alde backed off.
Protocol 37
Unknown Anomaly interference.
Leave all behind.
Alde retreated out of the train car.
Elaina peaked through her fingers.
"He's gone."
Art's stance lowered as Elaina approached her, looking at her empty hands.
"The cells?"
Elaina smiled.
Slowly.
Metal caught the light along her lips—
Top.
Bottom.
Drawing inward.
A heart.
Elaina weaved a stuffed kangaroo together, reaching into its pouch.
Too deep.
She pulled out one void cell.
"Secured."
Elaina placed it back into the pouch.
She unweaved the animal as they exited the train car.
The truck picked up dust as it halted.
Grimm and Jean stepped out, looking down into the ravine.
Elaina waved at them as they were descending down to the tracks.
Grimm took note of someone leaving.
"Who's that?" Grimm pointed at the distant Alde.
"A watchman." Art replied.
"Let's go after him."
"No."
Art paused.
"Kane."
...
Ash's eyes descended.
Kane's arm reached.
His hand pressed on the chest.
Ash stood tall.
Red lines dimmed.
Black retracted in.
Ingrained hands returned inward.
His burned brand faded.
He fell to his knees.
Gravity pulled his chest.
His arms slumped, his chin tucked.
Malice flooded in.
No loudness.
No force.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Ash wandered aimlessly.
Longing for direction.
A ticking hand stretched out.
Ash reached back.
It guided him.
Fulfilling his purpose.
A crack opened.
Malice resonated.
No struggle.
No repulse.
Calm.
Vanish.
A memory flashed.
The dried blood.
The blurred corpses.
Silence.
Hunger.
Kane's arm fell.
Looking beyond.
He stood.
Still.
Cold.
The dawning sun rose.
Its light covered the wasteland.
They arrived shortly.
Facing the sun.
Grimm stood in silence.
Elaina didn't smile.
Jean's hands shook.
Art was distant.
He walked.
Her lungs filled.
A word formed.
It didn't leave.
Just dissolved.
He passed her—
His stride slowed slightly.
Then continued.
His shadow stretched.
Distorted.