Ticking Time Bomb

episode 1

There's fire everywhere, smoke weighing thick in the air. Blanketing the ruins of buildings.

Sentry nervously adjusts his mask and tries to ignore the bodies scattered all around him. An unsettling nursery rhyme reaches the young boys ears. "Dear friend, across the river. I'll take, what you can spare."

A chill runs down his spine and in response, he speeds up his pace. Grabbing onto the arm Infront of him, he whispers. "Are you s-" BOOM! A body goes flying through the filthy air before thudding harshly on the ground. The enforcers in armor are killing everyone. "I ask, of you a penny. My fortune it will be." More smaller explosions are heard and Vandor squeezes the boy's hand comfortingly as they trail. "I ask of you without envy. We raise, no mighty towers. Our homes are built of stone" hot sparks swirl through the air. Vandor let go of his hand to engage in a fight with someone.

The boy runs a shakey hand through his light blonde hair. "So come, across the river. And find...." the soft singing had finally stopped, and sentry froze. He slowly turned to where the echoes had fallen short and saw two people. They seemed to be girls, one only looked few years younger than him, no parents in sight. His heart clenched but he was interrupted by metal clangs and a sickening crack. It was the sign he had become accustomed to, that Vandor's business with someone was done. The taller man glances at him and turns to look over his shoulder at the girls menacingly.

Breaths ragged, and hair stuck to his sweaty face. The man turned to face the unknown children as they shrink back in fear. His rouged face softens slightly. The taller pink haired girl looks up at him and swivels around in all directions. She seemed to have a question but couldn't get it out. Vandor sighed and stepped aside to show the young boy. After confirmation from the older man, he shows the girls the bodies that seem to be their parents.

The two girls fall to their knees, sobs racking their tiny bodies. The youngest seems to be attempting comfort but failing. The bearded man looks down at them in a sympathetic way and waves over the boy. Who in turn, hastily walks over and hugs him tight.

The short blonde just stood there, hugging as tight as he could. Almost as if the man would disappear without a trace. Vandor looks around at the three children, two of which he barely knew. And dropped his gauntlets in defeat, leaving them broken in the debris.

With a deep sigh, he pats the boys head and nods to the two girls. The pink haired, exhausted one being scooped up by Vandor. The smaller one who seemed to be about 6 looked up at sentry. Glancing at Vandor and the other sister, he kneels down. Finally speaking, though in a quiet voice. "Hi, I'm sentry what's your name?" The girl looks up at him with her big eyes and muddy, tear-stained cheeks. "Powder." The girl Vandor was holding spoke instead. "H-her name is powd-der." The boy pulls down his handkerchief mask with a makeshift smile.

"Well then hello powder. You see this?" The older boy held up the piece of cloth. The girl nods. "Well, this protects me from allll the icky feelings. So how about you wear it huh?" He tries to cheer her up, taking notice of the girl in Vandor's arms watching him cautiously. Powder giggles, it was broken and sounded a bit sad. But she giggled and nodded to him. He puts on a smug smirk and ties it around her neck. He holds out his hand to her and she grabs it with her smaller one. Standing back up to a normal stance, he turns to a roughed up Vandor. The man was smiling softly at the three children.

Without another word, Vandor carried the older sister, and sentry walked with the younger one, hand in hand. With the occasional funny face to distract her when she started looking sad.

*

"We're almost there!" Vi shouts down the building at everyone. She hops up onto the roof and calls for powder. Seeing the blue haired girl struggling, I help push her all the way up to talk to her sister. Mylo and Claggor groaning beneath me. "Oh, shut up you two it's not that hard!" I shout down at them. "Easy for you to say! You actually have muscle unlike us!" Claggor shouts up, earning an offended shout from Mylo.