Though Landis was leading the way, Conri had to stop himself from eagerly walking ahead. The previous feeling of hopelessness was lifting and it was all thanks to Landis. The joy made it difficult to hide his smile as they walked further into the city, the day was in full swing and the city welcomed them into its vast open arms. They took a bus and blended in with their surroundings, Conri’s leg shaking as he watched the buildings become more clustered and intertwined. All manner of individuals were out, a blend of casual and business on their way to destinations unknown to him, not taking in much of each other. Landis’ pulled the cord to signal their stop and they exited out onto a corner of a city block surrounded by chain restaurants, sewn together groups of townhouses in sets of four, and a large cluster of citizens lumped together taking up most of the sidewalks. 

Conri could tell this momentarily threw a wrench in Landis’ plan. 

“Shit,” Landis mumbled. “I didn’t expect anything to be happening today.”

Conri followed Landis’ gaze to the direction of what looked like a gap between the townhouses. 

“Its not ideal, but we can blend in and make our way through.” 

“Sounds good. Anything I should look out for?”

“Anything similar to the park,” Landis turned towards him. “If you’re not up to doing it again, we don’t have to.”

Conri shook his head. “No lets do it. I just have to stay close to you right? Otherwise the connection strains?”

“Thats my understanding, drift too far and you’ll be drawn to find another anchor which could be disorienting.” 

Landis began recreating the same motions as before, Conri readied himself to be consumed once again. The memory of that golden yellow light made it less terrifying, a guiding light in the blinding dark. It appeared again, surrounded on all sides by washed out colors and sounds that gradually muffled into thick white noise. He met Landis’ dark eyes and exchanged a nod. Turning their attention towards the large crowd, projecting a persona that came off as those who belonged here in this moment. Within seconds Conri knew that this wasn’t a group he’d normally associate with. Everything from picketed signs to cloth draped foldable tables lined with brochures to clothing brandished the same politically driven message. This was a campaign group protesting against the merger of the inhuman and human worlds. They had entered a sea of inhumans who were like Conri and Landis, yet felt life was better before the merge. Decades after  

Conri kept peering over to make sure the golden light was still in his peripherals as they continued, careful to not run physically into anyone. This was the first time he realized he’s been around this many people while navigating this living nightmare. A stumble here, a muttered apology there, he passed seemingly without much difficulty. Decades after the initial proclamation passed by the Senate.

Black particles floated between the crowd, born from the negative space he could see, as Conri heard his own voice. Panic gripped his throat. He bit his tongue in protest. He wasn’t going to cause a scene. Turning his attention to find Landis, only to find strangers. Sharp tipped ears. Sclera filled eyes. Hooved feet. Immobile tails. Yet no golden light. Conri needed to get to the gap between the buildings, Landis said that was their destination. He’d find the light there. Picking up the pace and keeping one ear open to any additional echoes of his own voice speaking to him.

The crowd made it difficult to reach, all engrossed in their own ambition to state their political opinion to notice Conri. He passed a small stage with a podium where a statuesque half elf stood, wearing a two piece suit reviewing a stack of papers. Perhaps she was the organizer? Taking one last look around him, the particles still accumulating into a dense living mass, before turning into the alley. Out of the public eye, Conri caught sight of a deep purple light carved into the walls just a few feet away from the entrance. Overlapping circles and lines similar to the scorch markings. 

Conri’s voice came from above. Shooting his gaze upwards towards the rooftops, he saw peering downward were four black eyes cut by burning white slits. The shock of wild white hair told Conri that this was Dalton or at least what he had become. His body perched precariously over the edge of the roof. The tension made Conri’s heart fill his chest with slowed agonizing pumps as if he was drowning. In his peripherals he could still see the purple reflecting on the corner of his glasses. An anchor?

Parting his lips to welcome the window of opportunity, he willed intention, right out of Dalton’s playbook. 

 The ends of Conri’s hair had risen in a gust of wind that thrusted itself upwards at Dalton. The purple light flickered as Conri watched Dalton’s body erratically twitched, unable to tell if it had worked or if Dalton was fighting back. As he could feel the air calm, Conri saw Dalton’s body poised still and momentarily frozen, before he pushed his chest outwards. Throwing his head in a headbutting motion. Rival wind rammed into Conri and he was shoved further into the alley, away from the carvings. Gravel and dirt scratching into his arms. Pain itched through his skin as he rolled back upright. Landis’ golden light, now as dim as a single candle flame, pushed through the blackened curtain that closed off the alley entrance.

A glimmer of hope that was shortly extinguished as he watched as Landis was brought down onto one knee, an invisible force landing directly on top of him. He struggled to stay properly upright. Though it was soundless, Conri could hear the bass-like rumble as the crashing air echoed into his eardrums. Conri tried again to will his intention to curse Dalton, only to cause him to twitch and stagger. By the second attempt, Dalton’s attention had shifted back to Conri. Dalton’s form moving playfully like a spider across its web. Thin fingers sprayed out wide, nails digging into the building’s bricks. Split tongue escaping from the gaping needle filled hole that was once his mouth. Their lower jaw detaching just like it did at the park. Before they could scale completely down the building, Conri could see his four eyes widen in surprise. 

The next second, Dalton had pulled himself back up the building and out of sight, silk threads of white light hung loosely in the air. 

In his eyes, he watched the ends of the threads sharpen and dive downwards, embedding themselves into Conri’s joints. They grew taught almost instantly. A quick decision, but he didn’t want to lose this chance. He ran until he came out on the other entrance to the alley, unable to see if Landis or his light were right behind him. The area opposite the rally was less crowded and he could clearly watch the direction the thread was pulling him, the frail glowing string passing smoothly through any solid surface, always angled upwards towards the rooftops. He risked the occasional glance upwards for any sight of Dalton while running parallel on the ground. Conri could feel his joints stiffen as if something was trying to force him to give up the chase. Fighting through he raced on. 

The surroundings were blurred, but with his makeshift anchor with Dalton, glimpses of color were returning to his vision. He could also hear snippets of passing traffic and conversations and frail tones of other far distance arcana. The connecting threads stretched and thinned with each second, Conri felt Dalton start to run faster. Noting the street signs he passed, sometimes into oncoming traffic afraid to see if the threads would snap if he stopped, his surroundings grew busier as he found himself down parts of the city he hadn’t been to since college. He dug into his pocket for his phone, planning to call Landis to give him his new location. Catching a glimpse of himself in a large tinted display window made his heart almost stop. 

It was as if time had slowed. His legs cycling through running motions, his phone halfway up to his ear and the faded color forms of civilians. Through it all one form stood out with strong clarity. Age indeterminable, wide shoulders, an angular face with salt and peppered short hair, and smoking a cigarette.  He wore a low cut white v-neck shirt, tapered jeans and a roughed up leather jacket. Despite it being a reflection, his icy silver eyes followed Conri’s reflection effortlessly through the glass. As their eyes met, time caught up and Conri watched as the threads snapped, their light becoming a cloud of dust he ran through. The pressure from his joints faded. He kept running, his attention now on finding the most public spot, to get out of sight. 

The sudden shock disoriented his movement, his feet fumbled under him, nearly tripping and catching himself against a lamp post. He took no time in deciding the best hiding spot, hurriedly crossing the street and entering through a pair of large sliding doors into a popular clothing store. Name brand and catered especially for fae and inhumans. Spying a set of ascending stairs to the second floor, he took them two at a time, making his way away from the wall of windows at the front of the building. Once at the backmost part of the store, he caught his breath and put on his sweatshirt, one hand ready to pull up the hood, before taking out his phone to call Landis. The phone rang once. 

“What happened? I lost you both.” 

“Dalton got away, I had him until,” he removed his shaking hand from the hood of his sweatshirt. “Until I lost him. Good news, I think I’m starting to get the hang of what I can do.” 

He could hear Landis let out a frustrated sigh. 

“I’m glad you’re safe, tell me where you are.”

Saying the address aloud sparked a strange sense of deja vu for him. Landis told him to wait where he was before hanging up. 

 The surroundings had returned completely for him finally. As his unease settled, his hand instinctively touched his left ear, the studs and rings felt eerily colder than normal. It brought him no comfort. Conri followed Landis’ instructions and stayed put, trying to pass as just an eager customer, perusing color coordinated racks and accessory display cases. He carefully approached the windows, turned so his back was towards the outside, keeping up the façade. Stealthy as possible, he took glances behind him, trying to get a better idea as to where he had lost Dalton. The unlit nightlife signs caught his attention first followed by the recognizable exteriors of restaurants and specialty shops. Though it looked slightly newer, he deja vu made sense, this was the district from his previous job. Conri felt his teeth ache as they closed down onto each other and he dropped his tensed shoulders. Another stupid idea was forming in the back of his mind.