The ensuing conversation had a few different results. The major one being Emma’s decision to help however she can. She said something along the lines of fearing her family would be victims in the upcoming events. It was relatable, and more than once I thought back to my mom and brother. I knew Jeromy would try his best to protect our mom, and that was the most I could ask for right now. We also took up sparring, over the course of several days. Also known as Briar watching Camilla beat me up while offering unhelpful advice. Even Jett tried his ‘hand’ at telling me what to do, but all the advice coming from different sources was distracting, it felt like it took forever before I was able to successfully block an attack, and even longer before I actually landed one with the stick (“it’s a training sword, Finlay”) they had given to me to use while sparring.

Emma would come to practice in the studio after her university lessons too, turns out she had gone to martial arts classes with her neighbor up until her junior year of highschool, and more than once she knocked Camilla flat on her ass. Sometimes it would be just the two of us, practicing unarmed combat. Emma tried her best to teach me, but it was mainly just to pass time while Camilla and Briar were busy or researching the heartless’ movements and actions.

It was commonplace for me to wake up sore and bruised, send a quick text to my mom about my (fake) plans for today after university, eat breakfast, learn what I could about the enemy, and train the rest of the day away as best as my tired body would allow before I’d call my mom before bed.

The first time I really knocked Camilla down was a breath of bright, fresh air, like I’d been holding my breath underwater for months. She even smiled, and nodded slightly. Right before she kicked my legs out from under me, anyway. I held onto that moment tightly whenever the days got hard, and even on days off, the chances for my body to heal, I might spend half an hour punching the dummy they brought up to the apartment above the antique store. At least, I would try to until Jett annoyed me into stopping for the day.

It was on one of these days of repose that I found myself leaving the store to go out on my own for once. Jett was settled in a satchel I’d gotten so he didn’t have to stay packed into my backpack whenever I went out. He complained less that way. I also started leaving my earbuds in my ear, with the mic in my other hand held closer to my face. Just so I wouldn’t look as crazy to passersby, for my own sanity.

I wanted coffee today, so I stopped by a cafe nearby that Emma and I would visit after training. I was currently living with the income of an employee for the antique store, despite the fact that I was very rarely actually working there. Which was mostly a front for times like when my brother decided to visit me ‘at work’ one day. I thought maybe I’d go pretend to work soon, after I got my drink. It was relaxing, which was nice on days where I needed to rest from all the fighting.

I was leaving the cafe to the sound of a friendly goodbye from the employees, when I decided to go the other way instead of back to the store immediately.

“Where are you going?” The sword asked from his satchel.

“I dunno, for a walk? It feels nice out.” I responded after I made sure my earbud was in.

“What would the others say?”

“That they hope I had a nice walk.” I rolled my eyes. “Relax, I’m not doing any rigorous training or anything.”

“Fine.” I imagined a grumpy old hermit crab retreating back into its shell.

I found myself wandering a bit, further away from the antique store than I had ever gone. I was sure I’d be able to find my way back, but it wasn’t too long of being a startling distance away before my phone began ringing. I left my earbud in and for once was talking to an actual person through the mic.

“Where are you?” The voice belonged to Camilla.

“Hmm… Fourth street? Yeah, I can see the sign from here.”

“Why are you all the way out there?” She sounded even more annoyed than usual. “I’m coming to get you. Something we need to talk about.”

“Whatever. Sure.” I said as I tossed my now empty coffee cup into a dumpster in the alleyway to my left. A group of three people passed me by soon enough, and I looked into the store window after the alley while I waited for Camilla to respond.

“Finlay.” Jett said suddenly, a different tone than I was used to from him.

“What, Jett?” I stopped walking, alerted by the difference in his voice, it reminded me of something that I couldn’t put my finger on.

“Those people who just passed. Follow them.”

“What? Why?” I turned my head, I saw the three walk into the alleyway I had just gone past. My hackles officially risen.

“Just do it, need to check something.” I realized what was so familiar about the tone of voice when my memory flashed back to Professor Bruno’s office.

“Finlay? What’s going on.” Camilla called, she sounded like she was outside on the other end.

“Sorry. Gotta check something.” I answered lowly as I turned around more fully and peered down the long alleyway. They rounded a corner I hadn’t seen at first, and I took that opportunity to enter the alley in pursuit.

I had to rush slightly in order to catch up, I stopped before I reached the corner, and peeked my head around. They were still there, rounding another corner, this time to the left. I followed once they were out of sight, and when I looked I saw them turn onto the sidewalk by the street. When I got to the end of the alley, I saw them at the crosswalk preparing to cross. I took this as an opportunity to act like a normal pedestrian and walk up to the crosswalk with the crowd. I followed the group as close as I could without seeming suspicious. I was remotely aware of the earbud in my ear, and the fact that the call was still active. I quickly looked around for a street sign, something to let on to Camilla that I was on the move, without taking my eyes off the group for too long. I was almost close enough to be within earshot.

“Mosey Ave.” I muttered lowly, successfully avoiding confused looks from the other normal pedestrians.

“Why are you still going? Are you being followed?” Camilla’s voice steadily grew more aggressive, which I realized a while ago that it was how she expressed distress.

“Not exactly.” I answered quickly, across the street now. I had to walk slower now, lest they notice I was following them by sticking close. I stopped responding to Camilla’s questions by this point.

“They’re going into the next alleyway.” Jett told me, and sure enough when they got there they turned into it. I sighed, I didn’t like the alleyways. I followed anyway, and watched as they rounded the corner within. I had to keep my steps quiet, since I was closer now. When I got to the corner myself I could hear their voices echoing off the walls.

“Yes. That’s true.” One man said.

“But why now?” A woman’s voice asked,

“And who sent them?” A haggard, male voice added. I paused, and waited before looking around the corner. Were they talking about me?

“Who knows.” The first one began, “I’m sure it’s all fine. No need to worry.”

“... If you say so.” The woman hesitantly agreed.

“I do say so.” The first sounded annoyed.

“I don’t. I say we should just-” The gruff sounding man got cut off.

“Not another word from you.” the other man said, “Our project is fine, our competitors won’t stand a chance. Especially if we can get our hands on the... new component.”

It sounded like some business people talking about their company or something. I let my hackles lower slightly, they still hadn't noticed me from where I was now sitting crouched behind a dumpster in my attempt to follow them. Their voices were getting quieter, and I looked up to see that they were gone. Must have gone around the corner. I hurried along in an attempt to catch up, and when I looked around the corner the woman was suddenly there, and she shoved. Hard.

After I fell back onto the ground I skittered backwards on my hands. The three people I had been following looked down, the taller man and the woman laughed while the bearded man just glared.

“Quick! Use me, Fin!” I could hear Jett shouting at me as I rushed myself back to standing.

“Who are you? Why are you following us?” The haggard man, the one with the beard grabbed my arm before I could shove it into the satchel.

“You’re so little!” The woman cooed at me, laughing as the tall, rather muscular man walked between the two.

I tried to tear my arm free from the iron grip, I swung my other arm to try and get the bearded man to let go, only to find it caught by the taller man. He wasn’t even smiling anymore.

“Who would even consider letting you pursue me?” He asked me calmly. I kicked out uselessly, hoping that Camilla would come around the corner any minute. The man lifted a hand to my chin, lifted my face to meet his eyes.

“Poor, Pretty, little weak thing.” He started chuckling again, then the hand on my chin was suddenly gripping my throat.

“I’m sorry, Fin.” I heard Jett say, he sounded far away, probably because the oxygen was being cut from my head. I felt my arms begin to lose their strength as my legs lacked force behind the kicking. The tall man let go of my other hand and before I could even begin to weakly push him away, he flipped something into view, pressed it into my temple and let go all at once.

It felt like freezing electricity bolted up and down from that spot in my head to the tips of my toes. Every nerve ending was lit on fire then dropped into an ice bath. I didn’t even notice I was falling until I had been on the floor for what must’ve been a few seconds. My head felt like someone had just used a bellow to blow smoke directly into my brain, then my lungs, my mouth, my nostrils. I could even taste it as it puffed from my mouth and leaked from my throat. I could see the three people above me turn down the alley. They sounded so far away, I thought maybe I could hear one of them as my vision went blurry and darkened.

“Just leave him…” The voice faded away, I couldn’t hear what the other’s responses were, if they even said anything. Everything went black after that, a sudden cut to darkness.