“THE CAN IS OPEN, AND THE WORMS ARE EVERYWHERE!”

    “What do you want to do-”

    “EVERYWHERE LUMI!” 

    “-about it…?”

    The conversation echoed up the stairs as Eleanor descended with Sky escorting her.

    “THIS-... This is… Ugh…” Hale groaned as Eleanor reached them, and Lumi’s silver eyes flickered to her at the jingle of Sky’s collar.

    “Good afternoon Miss Sky,” Lumi greeted her, and the dog boofed at them, “Hello Sky.”

    “Hey Lumi…” Eleanor glanced at the large dog as it took up residence on her feet, plopping its rump down on them.

    “Finally…” Hale breathed as he faced Eleanor, “Can you tell us anything else about your run?”

    “I… mean… can you be a bit more specific?” Eleanor gave a crooked smile, “It was like three runs in one go… I mean they’re connected but-”

    “Connected!” Hale pointed at her, “Connected how?”

    “Under the city…” Eleanor raised an eyebrow, “I mean… you should have the blueprints with the tunnels and bunker labs…”

    “Yes,” Lumi stood up, stepping over to Eleanor before placing a hand on her back, “What we don’t have is why or how these people are involved,” they led her to their computer, sitting her in their chair, and Eleanor’s eyes widened at the list of names on the screen.

    “I… I recognize those names…” Eleanor breathed, and Lumi leaned over with one hand on the back of the chair before tapping on the second screen.

    “I sorted through much of the data, and broke those names into these two lists,” they explained as Hale crowded them along with Sky, and Hale leaned on the back of the chair while Sky placed his heavy head in Eleanor’s lap, “The first list are those I suspect to have actual ties, and the second are just hired guns.”

    “Why is Malus highlighted?” Eleanor looked up to Lumi.

    “You’ve heard of Malus, haven’t you?” Hale pressed, and Eleanor’s gaze shifted to him, “Malus is an assassin.”

    “One of the big kids too,” Lumi commented with a flicker of a smirk, “Quite an impressive track record. If any of her previous employers know her identity, they have yet to share it.”

    “I… so… why is she highlighted?” Eleanor pressed a bit nervously, “And why do you have that look in your eyes?”

    “I appreciate danger,” Lumi hummed, and Eleanor raised an eyebrow.

    “She is separate because she has no ties,” Hale cut in, “She holds no loyalty to anything beyond her contract, and my understanding is she writes them herself to eliminate employer bullshit or something.”

    “Okay… but…” 

    “I’m getting there…” Hale frowned before Sky huffed in Eleanor’s defense, and her hand fell softly on the dog’s head, “Based on her reputation, she won’t tell us shit, but…” he smirked at Eleanor, “She doesn’t have to with you. We just need her to think about it.”

    “I… am still failing to see why we are looking into a contract killer,” Eleanor bit her lip.

    “Oh right,” Hale shook his head clear before pointing to the first list, “Those three names at the top.”

    “I… Oh gods…” she whispered, “They’re all leaders among The Innocent.”

    “Exactly,” Hale nodded, “The assholes that ended the war by nearly destroying the continent.”

    “Why- Why are they involved with the Killrize Labs?” Eleanor pressed while looking to Hale, but he shook his head.

    “We’re hoping Malus can give us some insight on it,” he sighed before meeting her gaze, “And if not, then that’s where you come in.”

    “What about shutting down the labs though?” Eleanor questioned as her anxieties clawed at the back of her mind, and Sky gently pawed at her, reminding her to breathe. “I…” She focused on petting Sky to distract herself from her racing mind. “I thought we were getting close to dismantling them…”

    “If we move now, we could have The Innocent after us, and we’re not that big,” Hale sighed, “Taking down labs in one city is doable, but the Innocent… they’re much wider spread.”

    “They may not be organized as they were during the war, but they can be unpredictable and fanatical,” Lumi interjected, “I still suggest that we bring in Malus rather than play her. She’s not a resource we want to burn. Eleanor is good at infiltration, but she is more or less alone in there.”

    “I had Tianna,” Eleanor stated.

    “Did you?” Lumi questioned without hesitation, and Eleanor went a bit rigid before Lumi turned their focus back to Hale, “We shouldn’t make a move until we can get in contact with Malus.”

    “We should try and gather more intel,” Hale stated before focusing on Eleanor, “Take a few days, but then I need you out to find some leads on The Innocent.”

    “But…” Eleanor went a bit pale, and Sky barked, making her jump.

    “You won't be going alone,” Hale assured her, “Carrigan and Avery are going to set out with you,” he revealed, and Eleanor looked down to Sky, “Now if you’ll excuse me…” he sighed as he started moving towards the stairs, “I have to get everything together, and tell my heart she’s going on a mission without me… She’s gonna pout...” he grumbled while heading up the stairs, and Eleanor wrapped her arms around Sky, pressing her forehead to his.

    “Eleanor,” Lumi spoke softly while placing a hand on her back.

    “Tianna was there.”

    “You were caught,” Lumi met her with the same defiance, “That discovery was not on you, and we both know that.”

    “There was a lot,” Eleanor sighed while reluctantly pulling away from Sky, and she stood from the chair.

    “There is,” Lumi reminded her. “You know better than anyone what she feels, and what she is doing. Don’t cross the lines you wish to keep.”

    “It’s fine,” Eleanor sighed as she started heading towards the stairs.

    “Eleanor,” Lumi stated, and Eleanor hesitantly paused, “Please take Sky. He could use the company,” they added softly, and Eleanor bit her lip with a slight nod before she patted her thigh, earning the dog’s attention.

    “Thanks…”

    Sky boofed as he happily trailed after Eleanor, following her up the stairs, leaving Lumi to themself.

    “Gurl…” Lumi shook their head with a sigh before sitting down, “You’re a mess.”