Lyfers: Amnesia

Chapter 20 - Annihilation

 In a yawn, she closed the door of her apartment, readjusting the bag's strap onto her shoulder and going down the stairs, without rushing herself; for once, she headed off to university early, and by so, wasn't forced to run. She checked her phone, putting it back into her black high-waist jeans' pocket since there was no new messages. Weird, she thought, Sphinx usually asks me where I am at this hour... Was he not coming to school, today, or did he simply just forget to text her? After all, they left each other quite late last night, and it wasn't like he had to message her. Still, it bothered her, and as she got outside of the building, a pout had formed onto her face. However, it suddenly turned into a surprised gasp when she bumped head first into someone's shoulder.

– I-I'm sorry, she stuttered.

She lifted her chin up to see the face of the person she jolted, and her concerned expression abruptly turned to a smile when she recognized Claw, watching her with his head tilted to the side and a smirk on his lips.

– Hey, Dove, he greeted her.

– Hi Claw! What are you doing here?

– Had some business nearby, thought I'd come say hi before you'd run off to school.

– Good timing then, I was just leaving!

She stood in front of him, rearranging her long blonde hair with a hand. He acquiesced, leaning against the brick wall behind him, hands into his bomber jacket.

– Heard Venom's making you come at Ether Ent tonight. It's true?

– Yeah. Apparently, it's time for me to get to real business, or something like that. By the way, I haven't heard from Blaze since a bit, is she okay?

– Well, she's-...

– Dove!

That sudden call made her turn around swiftly as she recognized the voice, and the smile on her face widened: Sphinx arrived, waving at her. He smiled back at her, but frowned as soon as he saw Claw standing so close to her, and jealousy quickly raised into his mind. Nevertheless, he ignored him, focusing on the young woman.

– Sphinx, she exclaimed, cheerfully. I thought we were meeting at the corner?

– I wanted to make some more road with you. But hey, you're up early today, did you fall from your bed?

– See who's talking, though. You woke up even earlier than me to be there now!

– Yeah, yeah, maybe. Anyways, you ready? We should get moving, or we'll be late.

– Just wait a bit, I was talking to Claw.

– He looked like he was done, though.

He glared at the black-haired man, who scowled in return, yet staying still. But when he grabbed Dove's hand to drag her away, Claw caught him by the collar, pulling him closer, under the astonished look of the blonde.

– The fuck you're doing? He growled, annoyed.

– I'm the one who should ask you that, retorted the mint-haired man, seizing his wrist.

– Stop bein' that insolent or I'm gonna make a fool outta ya in front of her.

– Then bring it on, shithead.

__________

– When is the burial?

– There's no burial for people like us.

Blaze's voice was ice-cold, and it resonated on the terrace's glass walls in an even more glacial way. Standing there, onto that platform that seemed to dominate all of Dufferdale, arms crossed and eyes locked onto the other side of the city, the young woman's emotionless expression began to worry Dusk. He knew it all too well; what she meant, what she felt, what she planned. He knew it all, and it worried him. What she was about to do was righteous, and he would support her in it, but still, it could get every single of them killed. A hand on his own injured shoulder, he rejoined her, stopping by her side as he watched the same part of the city as her; Morphine's district.

– You know it's dangerous, right? He questioned her, in a low tone.

– I fuckin' know, Dusk. Just like you fuckin' knew with Dawn.

He shivered from hearing this name, and his concerned look went from worried to angered in a blink, and he sent his right fist into the glass with the same speed. She didn't move, but inside of her, she realized that she should've stayed silent on this subject. Nevertheless, he acquiesced, eyebrows frowned and knuckle still stuck onto the window.

– Alright, he growled. But keep in mind that this won't be a battle, Blaze. It'll be a war.

– No, that won't be a war.

– How so?

– That won't be a war, that'll be an annihilation.

Her repeating her own words showed him she had no hesitation; she would be pursuing that goal until she either succeeded, or died. He heavily sighed at that last idea, sticking his forehead onto the glass.

– Do you have Atlas' permission?

– Not yet. But you're his right-hand man, so I came to ask you first.

– You perfectly know I'd follow you into fire if I had to.

– Then get ready, it's exactly what we'll do.

They both kept silent for a moment, and as he examined her, he could clearly see that the coldness of her stance was foolish next to the brilliant flare into her eyes. After a minute, she swung around to leave the terrace, but he stopped by catching her forearm.

– What about the other gangs? He asked. How will they react to us erasing an entire gang from the map?

– Downtown cleaned Dufferdale from the Skinners, and we all thanked them. Let's say we're cleaning our streets from their poisoned shit.

– Tricky, but doable.

– Of course.

He let go off her, and she left the platform. However, something was bothering him, and he followed her inside of his apartment, staring at her with a scowl while she took her handbag.

– Don't do anything without Atlas' permission, he warned her.

– Atlas is avid of power, she plainly answered, the possibility of a new territory will please him.

– I wasn't talking about that, Blaze. You know what I meant.

She turned to grin at him.

– With or without his permission, we need to awake her, someday.