The Human - Soothsayer *ON HOLD*

CHAPTER 7

There was nothing but endless walls ahead. Endless walls that brushed against his sides all while they navigated the narrow passageways of the lower district. The alleyway wasn't particularly straight, but neither was it a maze of twists and turns. Roofs overhead practically laid atop of one another, keeping daybreak from cutting through. Pipes below crisscrossed the floor as if it was an objective to trip any passing wayfarer. That was the sordid underbelly of the district; seemingly the only part of the area that hadn't been ripped apart or set fire to by vicious creatures of the underworld. It made traversing easier, not having to expect danger every time a corner was turned.

The tumult from Main Street had since reared into a dull buzz the farther down they went, hushed behind anxious thoughts that crowded Ty's mind like that of flies over rotting meat. It was a chance to calm down and think without the grisly sights of demons and death, and Ty readily seized it as if it was a piece of bread offered to a starved man.

Find Alexi. Safety. Escape. Answers.

The worries spiralled over his mind like the whirlwind of a tornado barely kept at bay. Ty was grateful for the jacket that protected him from the collective number of splinters to his sides. It was one less nuance to think about, to worry about. Kept his mind focused on the job.

Ahead of him, Tobias wasn't faring much better; twitching and mumbling so often it was becoming worrisome. The boy had been less than composed since Main Street. His hair was a mess, his expression ghostly pale as he clutched onto the small cut on his arm where the torn sleeve was. Several times Ty had offered to check on the state of the boy only to be ushered along.

'I'm fine, really,' he would insist, his eyes darting to Ty's face before glancing away. Then, the boy would continue onwards, gaze turned away from him, shoulders and back straight, rigid. Stiff.

This time Ty didn't let it go. Tobias' rebuff, amongst all that had happened, was the tipping point of his emotions. Suddenly, everything welled up inside of him. The social injustice, Alexi's supposed lies, the demons, and... what happened at the garden; all of it roiled in him like the churning waves of an ocean. His hand came up and clutched the boy's shoulder, jerking it back until Tobias stumbled backwards and was looking at Ty with wide-eyed confusion.

'We're not taking another step further until you talk!' He snapped, his grip tightening when he tried to pull away. 'You've been acting weird since we left the burial grounds. What's going on? What happened to you at the gates?'

His eyes glanced down to Tobias' arm and it instinctively moved out of his line of sight. He was met with a watery glare, which only enforced his resolve to question more.

'I've told you, nothing happened!' Tobias hissed, whipping away. 'We don't have time for this.'

He jerked out of his hold and – after a pause of breath – hustled down the lane. Ty was quick to follow behind.

'Bull!' he snapped. 'I know you and I know the tell-tale signs that show up when you're trying to hide something.'

'Oh yeah, Tyfell? And what is that, do you reckon?'

'For one thing, you look like crap.'

Tobias didn't look back, but Ty was almost certain his eyes rolled at that. 'Smart as a whip...'

'And your fingers.'

He didn't stop walking but picked up his pace. Ty followed suit, grabbing for his arm so the boy would turn his attention. One more turn and they would be onto the terrace cutting through Main Street.

'You pick at them whenever you're keeping something from Alexi, ever since we were kids, you would do that. And you're doing it right now, they're practically red Tobias! Bleeding!'