Paul Gallant took a sip of coffee, squinting down at the Sudoku puzzle in his paper. The clock ticked behind him, keeping his mind focused and narrowed on the task at hand. He was just lightly pencilling in his fifth attempt at the quandary, when Jack wandered in from the living room, marching straight for the breadbin. His father looked up, nodding as he did so. “Hey sport.”

Jack jumped, his hand halfway towards the box of frosted nutrition-free toastable biscuits as he grinned innocently. “Uh...hi. Yeah. Morning.”

Paul raised an eyebrow, and glanced up at the clock. “You’re getting better. Only ten minutes late getting ready.” He folded his paper, and leant on the breakfast bar. “Late one last night?”

The teenager waved a finger as he brandished three of the offensively pink breakfast snacks in one hand. “I was back in by eleven. I did promise. They do let me head off early.”

Paul leant back, but couldn’t help but notice his son’s slightly awkward limp as he skirted around the breakfast bar, as well as the faint dark bruises and plasters over his bare arms and face. The man reached a hand up to his mouth, and coughed gently.

“Any trouble?”

“Not really.”

“Sure?”

“Mmhmm.”

Both father and son looked to their left, and said nothing more on the matter. It was simple pleasantry at this point; Paul made sure not to pry into the Digimon-related activities of his son, the bird, the town in general or, god forbid, offer well-meaning practical advice on the teenager’s little business excursions.

And in return, Jack spared his father the intricate details of how the night before he’d been partaking in stunt flying, got kicked off a giant eagle by an angry paper crane, and had very nearly ended up as a wide red stain on the roof of some random building in an industrial estate somewhere.

Lying (by omission) to your loved ones and ignoring the problem – truly a proud family tradition.

Fortunately the two were spared from any uncomfortable focus on the facts by a large red bird swooping into the kitchen. Unfortunately he did it too fast and ended up smacking into the light, before crashing into the cooker hood, setting off the fan. He rolled off and flopped down onto the floor, staring upwards. Paul rolled his eyes, and reached upwards to steady the light. “Perimon, what have we told you about your indoor speed?”

Perimon folded his wings and frowned. “What have I told you about your interior decor?”

Paul glared down at him, causing the bird to flush scarlet and scooch away back towards Jack, who offered a subtle hi-five when his father’s head was turned the other way. There was the sound of keys in the doors and Jade Gallant walked in, wearing a dripping raincoat and holding two sodden whippets back with all her might.

“It is brutal out there,” she huffed, hooking her coat over a cupboard handle as Ember and Skye rushed into the living room to divebomb the nice clean carpet. Jade wandered in, rubbing a towel over her hair, when she looked over at Jack. “Shouldn’t you be going to school?”

Jack raised a finger, swallowing a mouthful of his breakfast as he grinned sheepishly. “I was up late partaking in homework.”

He reached for another breakfast tart, but she slipped the plate away and pointed upwards. “Get yourself ready; you’re gonna be late.”

“But I’m starving.”

“You can have this on the way.”

The boy moaned under his breath, but complied, trudging back upstairs with his bird hopping along behind him. Jade sat down at the breakfast bar, holding her head in her hands.

“Honestly, I thought we’d managed to avoid the teenage years...”

Paul whistled, and pulled his paper up again. “With Perimon around? You’ll be lucky.”

Perimon swooped inside Jack’s bedroom as the boy closed the door behind him, leaning back against the panel. He let out a breath, and stared at the clutter around him, not helped by his battered costume from the night before strewn over the floor.

His partner hopped around on the centre of his bed, before sighing. “Alrighty then, spit it out.”

Jack blinked. “What...?”

“You know. About last night. Or most likely even before that.” The eagle adjusted his location from the bed to the desk, tilting his head. “Your parents aren’t listening now. What’s biting you?”

Jack held one elbow, scowling. “Nothing’s biting me. It was just a bit of a rough night last night, that’s all.”

“Look, I know you. Something’s bothering you and it’s down to more than just you falling off me last night.” The bird shuffled awkwardly. “Honestly, the fact you were up there with me anyway gave me a bit of pause for thought.”

Jack groaned, and trudged forwards, filling up his bag with a random assortment of school things. “I don’t tell Dad or Mum about these things on purpose; I don’t need you filling in the gaps.”

“Maybe not.”

Jack straightened up, but not before Perimon landed gently on his forearm, staring into his eyes with his own piercing green ones.

“But I need you to be at your best. Even when I’m not.”

“It’s easy for you to say. You’re always at your best.”

“If I was I wouldn’t be getting twatted out of the sky every other day.”

Jack smirked, and turned away, with Perimon watching him go. “You have to talk to someone!”

“I know, I know...” Jack paused, his hand hovering over the door handle. “It doesn’t get any easier.”

Perimon let out a small cluck. “I mean...it doesn’t have to be me. Maybe Grace?”

Jack didn’t answer. His hand just closed around the doorknob, gently twisting it sideways. The eagle stared after him, rustling his feathers.

“Jack...please think about it, alright? Before the whole thing gets worse? We both know how that ends up.”

Jack exhaled, and threw a smile back at his partner. “Alright. I promise.”

“Jack, I’m gonna finish your breakfast for you if you’re not gone in five seconds. Just warning you.”

The teenager rolled his eyes, and left his room, leaving the concerned bird staring after him.

Grace opened a classroom door, peering inside. Nothing. No sign. Sighing, she pushed it shut behind her, leaning against it.

She hadn’t seen Nicholas at college all day. Not even in the common room. Nobody else had seen him either, even the people who he shared classes with. She hadn’t felt like prying further; every time she tried to focus on the subject she just felt the pit in her stomach once again. The college had broken up for lunch, but she didn’t feel like joining the others. Dazed, she wandered outside, sitting on a bench just between the college building and the school opposite. It was cold out but she didn’t really care. If nothing else it meant she had some space to be alone.

Her hand went to her bag, and she pulled out her phone once again, her finger pulling up the recent messages.

“I need some time to think. Not your fault. I’ll see you later. Nicholas. Xx”

She stared at the words, but they rudely refused to change into anything more...more...she wasn’t quite sure. Reassuring? Honest? Even a straight-up “I never want to see you again because I’m afraid for my life” might have been some comfort. This kind ambiguity just hurt.

She scrunched her face up, and pressed the dial button next to Nicholas’s contact, holding the phone up to her ear. The tone buzzed in her ear. And again. Then it went to voicemail. She heard the beep, and sat there for a few seconds, wondering what to say.

“It’s me...”

She paused again, praying for somebody to pick up on the other end.

“I’m sorry. For everything. Just...I want to talk. Please. I’ll see you around.”

Her thumb stabbed the end call button, and she bent over, resting her face in her arms and letting out a long, ragged breath into the wood of the table. There she stayed for several minutes, until she became vaguely aware of a shadow standing over her. She peered up, and saw Jack standing there in his school uniform. He gave a weak smile.

“Long day?”

“...yeah. Long day.”

Jack gestured to the bench. “Do you...mind if I join you?”

Grace scooched up, moving her legs out of the way as her brother sat down opposite her. She frowned, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I don’t usually get visits from your side. Don’t you usually hang out with Brian and Noel?”

Jack curled his fingers up on the table, biting his lower lip. “I need to talk to you.”

Grace blinked. “Where’s this coming from?”

“...Perimon. Mainly.”

“Ah. You getting life coaching again?”

Jack rubbed behind his head. “He’s annoying, but he is right a lot of the time. I figured I’d actually listen to him for once.”

“Sure thing.” Grace clasped her hands in front of her. “Is this about last night? I’m not blaming you for what happened. Nobody is.”

“Nobody else does. But we weren’t strong enough. Before as well, with Ebidramon, we weren’t strong enough.” The boy looked away. “You can see why I didn’t want to talk to Perimon. It’s not his fault. It’s mine.”

Grace pressed her chin against her fingers. “Things are changing, Jack. There’s no shame in needing to relearn a few things.”

“But we were getting stronger!” said Jack, more forcefully than he meant to. He quietened down, looking down at the table. “I was sure of it. We were winning. But lately, it...just feels like you’re all leaving me behind.”

He looked up and saw Grace staring at him, an almost guilty look in her eyes. The boy shook his hands, “I like the others, don’t get me wrong. But it feels like...they came, and they’re suddenly better than me. And last night, this...this other tamer...she was better than me as well. And she’s on the wrong side. But I can’t stop her. I should have been able to.”

He groaned, slumping down against the table. “I miss being able to evolve myself. I could have helped. I wouldn’t have nearly fallen to my death. Again.”

Grace picked at a knot of wood in the table. “I know how you feel, but we can’t do that here, remember? Alasdair told us. We’re bound by this physical rules of this world now.”

Jack gave a humourless laugh. “Things were easier back then.”

“Were they?”

“They felt it. Or maybe I was just dumber.” The boy pushed himself up. “I know you’re more busy, but I miss you when you’re not there. I like fighting with you next to me.”

Now it was Grace’s turn to fall quiet, staring down at the table. Jack looked up. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, no, it’s just...well...” The girl stammered, muttering under her breath. “I’m not sure I want to keep fighting.”

“Grace?”

The girl turned red, as Jack leant forwards, concern growing on his face. “Is this about...Nicholas?”

The girl didn’t respond. But her silence told Jack everything he needed to know. He leant backwards, exhaling. “That sucks.”

“I want to see him. I want to be with him, and with my friends and focus on my studies but it feels like everything’s getting worse and I can’t...do what I thought I could. I’m gonna lose people if I do.” Her eyes darted towards him. “But I’m gonna lose you if I don’t.”

Jack fidgeted beneath the table, looking away. “Eloise and Kai have their own lives now. And Aaron and Kent. And you have been doing this a long time...” He stared at her. “Do you wanna give it up?”

“I can’t-“

“But do you want to? If you could?”

Grace opened her mouth. Then closed it. Thought for a minute.

“...I really don’t know...”

“Don’t worry about it.” Jack sighed. He stood up, and pulled his bag over his shoulder, giving a faint grin. “I’ll just have to work twice as hard when you move off to uni.”

“Don’t hurt yourself because of me.”

“I won’t,” replied Jack, before sticking his index finger out. “But that goes for you too.”

Grace relaxed her shoulders, and ran her finger in a cross shape over her heart. Jack waved, and wandered back over to the other side as she stared after him.

The air was still cold, yet somehow felt more oppressive than ever.

Carrie McMillan ruffled her hair as she shoved the washing pile into the machine, before straightening up and cracking one shoulder. It was tiring work, she decided; living with two young children and one teenage girl and now a giant salamander meant the laundry was less of a chore and more of a daily quest to slay the bacterial dragons that always managed to return into their lives.

Talking of which, she was definitely missing something. The woman blew her fringe out of her eyes, and trudged to the bottom of the stairs, calling upwards.

“Lonnie, I asked you to bring down your whites an hour ago!”

“Sorry. Coming. Promise!”

There was a slight scuffling about, but a lack of the usual sudden bang which heralded the fact that one of Carrie’s charges had run into some furniture, the wall, each other; the list goes on. The woman folded her arms, leaning against the banister. It was actually remarkably quiet up there. She’d heard some mutterings about a game of hide-and-seek, which Lonnie had told her was a good way to practise shimmering, whatever that was. That being said, she was always on edge whenever the house went quiet. It signalled unforeseen circumstances. It signalled imminent arguments. It signalled destruction.

There was the sound of footsteps, and Lonnie rushed downstairs two at a time with a pile of washing under her arm. She rushed over to the machine and flung it in, while Carrie rushed behind her, flapping her hands about. “No, no, stop! How many times do I have to tell you; it doesn’t clean unless you open it out.”

Lonnie stuck her hands in her pockets, swinging a leg back and forth. “You say that every time. I find it hard to believe in this day and age that washing machines actually care how you wash stuff.”

“I didn’t say I understood it. I only tell you how it is.” Carrie pulled out a shirt and inverted it with an expert move, before pulling it closer. “You’ve managed to cut this one open. Quite badly, actually...”

She looked up at her daughter, who very quickly raised a hand, clamping it over her right shoulder. Carrie sighed. “Show me...”

“It’s not that bad-“

“I said show me.”

Lonnie stuck her bottom lip out, but she removed her hand and reluctantly rolled up her sleeve. Her mother walked forward, wincing when she saw the red-raw gash on Lonnie’s upper arm.

“God, Lonnie...how did you manage that?”

The girl looked away. “I didn’t really notice. It was either when I was crawling through a window or something to do with the giant robot beetle.”

“Have you even washed it out?”

“...I forgot...”

“For crying out...sit down, I’ll dress it once I’ve done this.”

A few minutes later Carrie had retrieved the old metal box of first-aid supplies and was dabbing the gash with a swab of cotton wool dipped in tea-tree oil. Lonnie flinched as the stinging ball touched her, but she remained still.

“Sorry about this. I didn’t wanna make you worry.”

“It’s a bit late for that. If you want to help me you need to tell me about these things.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

“It can still get infected. How are you planning to save the world if you’re stuck in bed with a fever?”

Lonnie pressed her lips out. “I didn’t think of that...”

Carrie narrowed her eyes, before putting the ball to one side and getting out a dressing. She paused, sighing as she looked down at the floor. “Why you?”

“Sorry?”

“Why did it have to be you? Out of everyone it could have been.”

Lonnie grinned. “I wanna save the world, mum. I always did. And somebody has to do it.”

The woman sniffed, and pressed the dressing down on Lonnie’s wound. “I know it sounds selfish, but...well...this family’s seen enough pain already. You’ve seen enough already. It’s not fair.”

Lonnie closed her other hand into a fist, staring ahead. “Maybe that’s why it did have to be me. I know what it’s like to get hurt like that. So I need to make sure nobody else has to see it.”

Carrie pulled out a strip of tape and pressed it over the dressing. “You’ve been listening to Uncle Ali far too much.”

“He’s smart!”

“Yes he is. And kind. And he’s helped us with an awful lot. But he’s also been through his own hell, just like your granny did.”

“They came through though, didn’t they?”

“That they did. They were strong. So are you. But I’d really rather you didn’t test the limits all the time.” Carrie sighed, drumming her fingers on the table. “I don’t know...maybe this family’s just cursed.”

The woman stood up, brushing her hands off. “There you are...”

Lonnie stood up, rolling her shoulder and smiling warmly. “Cheers mum. I’ll try not to get stabbed in the other arm as well.”

Carrie pursed her lips, and threw a cotton ball at her daughter’s face. “You know where the box is; you patch yourself up. And you can keep the plasters topped up. It’s only fair.”

“Oh come on, I’m not that bad-“

Boom

CRASH

“AAAAAAAAIIIIEEEE!”

The sudden noise made Lonnie jump, nearly knocking the box off the counter, but her mother caught it with one hand, already desensitised to this kind of noise. There were further bangs, and Anna’s voice bellowed out from upstairs.

“Get out of my rooooooooom!”

Rumble, rumble, crash! Followed by the unmistakeable dugga-dugga-dugga-dugga of something large rolling down the stairs. Lonnie rushed to the hallway just in time to see Dendromon sprawled out on the floor, her eyes spinning in her sockets and a pair of pale pink knickers stretched over her head.

There was a secondary set of crashes as Sian ran down the stairs and leapt on top of the salamander in a flying hug attack, squeaking as she did so. “Found you, Dendy!”

Dendromon, ever the realist, didn’t manage a verbal reply and instead resorted to a hoarse, breathless woof. There was the sound of a slamming door and several more rolled up bits of clothing were thrown down the stairs at the two, courtesy of a distinctly peed-off Anna.

“I hate you! I hate you! I never wanna see you again!”

Lonnie looked at her mother with an expression that screamed ‘help’ in several accents. Carrie looked at her watch, and whistled. “Well, would you look at that. It’s about time for my bi-hourly sit-down and eat-jelly-beans session.”

She beamed at her eldest, slowly backing away. “You’ll be able to take care of this, won’t you sweetheart? There’s a good girl. I’ll see you in fifteen.”

In a turn of speed not normally seen outside of Olympic gymnastics, she skipped sideways out the room before Lonnie could even reply.

Eloise yawned as she walked down the winding road from her campus, her book bag slung loosely over one shoulder. Thursdays were generally an acceptable day as her lectures finished at twelve, but she was still slightly resentful about having to sit in a classroom since 8:15 in the morning trying to work on a simulation that didn’t do anything it was meant to, followed by two straight hours of such engaging topics asdisruptive vibrations in rotating machines and common material flaws in the casting process.

Her brain was feeling particularly soup-like, so she reached up and ruffled her hair, trying to wake herself up.

“Why did I choose this degree again?”

She paused, and shook her hair out, shrugging one shoulder.

“Oh yeah. Making the world a better place.”

The breeze felt cool against her scalp; something she appreciated much more after having her hair cut short last year. She turned a corner into the city street, a spring in her step at the prospect of going home...until she noticed a large crowd of people gathering in front of one of the shops.

She recognised that shop. A couple of years back when she and Kai were still fighting on a regular basis, they’d evicted a pair of particularly vicious Waspmon. Miraculously they’d even managed to send them back through the portal they’d arrived through. The shop had since been closed and left ransacked, with no sign of anybody stepping in to pick it up again. A more-than-common sight nowadays.

The young woman slowed, reaching on tiptoes to try and see over the top of the crowd. But when she did so, she froze mid-step, her expression hardening.

Vex was standing there. Fully armoured, face covered, out in the open in broad daylight. He paced around slowly, speaking to the crowd around him with no emotion in his voice.

“...has been invaded. Nowhere is safe; public or private, day or night. They’re growing bolder. They can hide in plain sight and they know this. We’re important to them. We have things they need, or desire. They’re not mere mindless beasts. But they sure as hell aren’t human.”

Eloise backed up slightly, trying to see through a gap in the crowds. Kade was there, as was Dula, and several of the members she’d become familiar with of late. They stood back, quiet and uninterrupting. None of them seemed to be armed; of course they wouldn’t be, in broad daylight. But they hadn’t come here to fight. Only to make themselves known.

“We’ve worked at night. We’ve tried to clear them away. But too much has happened. The attack on the train. The shopping centre. A couple of nights ago, at the music club. They won’t back down; it’s in their nature. They’re here for us. We’re in their way, and they’re strong enough to get rid of us. But we can get rid of them now.”

The man bent down, grabbing something from off the ground and lifting it up high over his head, needing only a single hand. There were gasps around the crowd, some of them recoiling back. Eloise saw it as well, and her throat locked up. She couldn’t breathe for a second, transfixed by the emaciated remains of a Digimon being held before her. She felt a weak buzz from her pocket; no doubt her D-Nexus telling her what the creature had once been. Something like a marble snakeskin, cracked and lustreless, with two ragged wings protruding from the head, which were already falling apart.

“This one was attacking a family. It could fly through the air, and freeze its surroundings at will. They all bring their own quirks. But inside they’re all the same. Programmed to fight. They have no compulsion other than their hunger for violence. They have intelligence, but no compassion. They will kill you. For no reason other than it’s all they know.”

Eloise felt her eyelid twitching, and her hand clutched around the strap of her bag so tightly she felt she might break it.

“...how dare you...”

The bitter, quiet words passed her lips before she could stop them, and she glanced around. Nobody seemed to have heard her; in fact, there seemed to be a few people like her, standing back and staring in horror. More were just walking quickly past, heads down, not looking up.

But more and more were gathering closer, and a few of the crowd were beginning to give murmurs of approval. The occasional cheer, quickly shot down by Vex. Nods of agreement. Grimaces of determination. A willingness to fight.

Eloise caught sight of a pair of hi-viz vests in a nearby alley, where a couple of the police force were watching. They didn’t move. Didn’t speak. One held a radio in her hand. But apart from that, nothing. They just watched, and listened. More bystanders.

“We’ve come out to tell you...reassure you...that we’re fighting this plague. Please stay safe. Keep away from these monsters if you see them. Protect yourselves.”

The man dropped the snakeskin to the floor, and pressed his boot against the skull, the dead armour flaking away into quicksilver.

“But if you can fight with us, please find us. Help us. There are no names. No conditions. No obligations. Just a single purpose. A promise to these monsters that we won’t die so easily.”

Eloise wrested her head away, and powered off down the high street, head down and not looking back as Vex’s words rang in her ears.

“We will protect you. Every one of you.”

Eloise shut the front door behind her far harder than she intended to, and leant back against it, feeling her insides shaking. She pulled her hands up to her mouth and screamed silently into them, her bag dropping down into the crook of her elbow.

She stayed there for a few moments, before walking through to the living room. She double-took, seeing Kai sat down on the sofa, staring ahead. The curtains were drawn, and the two dragons were out and about; Colchimon draped over his partner’s shoulders in an all-too-familiar position, and Ladomon coiled up in one corner, embracing and gently nibbling one ear of Duke.

“You’re home early,” remarked Eloise, dumping her bag on the floor.

Kai twisted his phone in his hand, looking away. “Sorry about that. I got shift cover, but...I bumped into some people on the way home.”

“Ah.” Eloise rubbed the back of her neck. “By people, you mean ones who wear leather and promote digicide?”

“You saw them as well?”

Eloise sighed, her expression doing all the answering. Kai let out a breath, staring downwards. “I don’t wanna talk about it either.”

“You had a chat with Sara? She said she was always there if you needed her.”

Kai waved his phone. “Tried that already a couple of times. She didn’t pick up. Probably busy.” The young man raised a half-empty bottle of coke, looking forlornly at the contents. “It’s at times like this where I almost regret being teetotal.” He waved the bottle in her direction. “Care for a glass-“

“God yes.”

The two sat for a little while, not saying much to each other but just enjoying the others’ embrace. Eventually Ladomon abandoned her fluffy companion and slithered over, resting her head on Eloise’s lap and sticking her tongue out a short way.

“It’s alright. Really.”

Eloise smiled weakly, and scratched beneath the serpent’s chin. “Thanks. But I wish I could share your optimism.”

She leaned back, resting the back of her hand on her forehead. “How long have we been trying to stay out of the way, Kai?”

The young man adjusted his glasses. “We’re not. We’re just...trying to find our own place, that’s all.”

“Yeah,” piped up Colchimon, wriggling upwards and coiling himself up on the headboard. “You don’t need to worry about those guys. The others are taking care of them.”

Kai clasped his hands together. “They’re having to deal with far more than we ever did. We may not have a choice but to step back in.”

“We’re happy to do that-“

“I know you are! But...what if something happened to you guys? What if they caught you next time?”

Kai straightened up, looking at both dragons in turn. “You’ve already fought more than you’d ever need to. I want you both to be safe. And happy. Is that too much to ask?”

Ladomon gave Colchimon a concerned look, but they couldn’t think of anything to say in response. Ladomon patted the fabric of the sofa with her wing edges, leaving a faint dusting of data.

“We know what it’s like to be in a rough time, and a rough place. You were there to help us. It’s only right that we’re there for you.”

Kai leant back, and felt Colchimon’s beak resting on his head. There was a sliding sound from beside him, as Eloise pulled her legs up onto the sofa and rested her head in Kai’s lap.

He smiled, gently running a palm over his girlfriend’s shoulder.

“What did I ever do to deserve all of you?”

There came a soft vibration from above him as Colchimon purred into his hair, causing the young man to laugh out loud.

“Who cares about Vex and his idiots? So what if we have to step back in? Let’s just all of us have some fun with the life we have now.”

He laughed, and leant over, kissing Eloise on the cheek. She reached up and pulled his arm over her body, staring ahead at the wall.

“We really should get a proper TV at somepoint.”

“I can get my laptop.”

“You could. We could binge something, the four of us.” Eloise gazed up into the young man’s pale blue eyes. “Or you know…the two of us could go upstairs…for some alone time...”

“Or we could make nachos.”

“...yeah. We could.”

Kai smirked. “Perhaps all three?”

Eloise tucked herself in a bit further as Ladomon coiled up with Colchimon just above them.

“Maybe later.”

“Sounds good.”

Kevin pushed himself further up the bed, turning the page of his book. “So be honest now; what did you do to deserve a punch in the face this time?”

Owen’s voice sounded from the bathroom, sounding as utterly disengaged as ever. “Not a clue. Just being my usual charming self.”

“That sounds about fifty-percent accurate.”

“We were getting our arses handed to us by a floppy crane dude; how was I supposed to know he had an owner?”

“I dunno; just a little compassion and forethought goes a long way.”

The door opened and Owen walked in, waving his shirt around in one hand. Kevin glanced up from beneath his glasses, but didn’t pay his squatter much attention. Simeamon was lazing around as well, leaning on the back of a chair as she half-watched the local news which was playing in the background.

Owen stretched, and pulled his top on, before swinging himself onto the bed. “Shifty over.”

“Your hair’s wet. Don’t mark the pillow.”

“What are you, my mother?”

“That would be Simeamon.”

“Hey!” yelled the monkey, squinting around at the two of them. “I don’t give a fuck what kind of kanoodling and bitching you two get up to but don’t drag me into it.”

Kevin raised a palm. “See? Clearly she’s the responsible one.”

The monkey leaned back, kicking one foot back and forth. “Yeah, right, people say you’re responsible but then they turn on you the moment your partner tells you to blast a homicidal lightning bug in the head.”

Owen sighed. “I’ve said I was sorry.”

“Yeah, well...” The monkey looked away, scowling. “I don’t like doing it. I’m just doing what you tell me to. The least you could do is step up and take the shit for it.”

Kevin rolled his shoulders at the immense love in the room, and found himself gazing at the TV screen. Something caught his eye, and he whistled to get the two’s attention. “Don’t look now, but someone’s gone viral.”

The three turned their attention to the screen, watching blurry camera-phone footage of the high street, with Vex giving his rally to all around. Each word hung in the air, heavy and poisonous. The feed switched to the news reporter giving her assessment of the situation. Advice to the viewers to stay inside. Let the heroes do their work. We have hope.

Kevin gently placed his book down, looking between Owen and Simeamon. The monkey was reacting physically; clutching her elbows and crouching up. Owen just stared, seeming to be almost in a different dimension.

“Alright, fuck this,” said Kevin, reaching for the flicker and turning the screen off. “The media’s biased anyway. No-one needs to hear this crap.”

Owen didn’t respond. He just pulled his hands up and ran them over his face, his breathing dead and heavy. Simeamon looked over her shoulder, her helmet obscuring her face.

“I told you this was gonna get worse, Owen.”

Owen’s eyes darted towards her. But still he didn’t say anything. Kevin swallowed, and gently nudged him with an elbow.

“You really need to tell someone.”

“...no I don’t.”

“It’s not helping anybody anymore. Nobody else is gonna stop them. You have friends now; they need to know-“

Owen bristled, and threw his hand to one side, stopping himself as he snapped, “No they don’t!”

Kevin flinched, and Owen pulled his arm back, scrunching up the collar of his shirt. “You know why I can’t do that. It’s...not gonna change anything. It’ll only make things worse.”

“Worse than they already are?”

Owen looked away, shutting off again. There was a scoffing sound from the chair in front as Simeamon leant an elbow over the back of the chair, smiling acerbically.

“Don’t waste your breath, dude. Everything’s fine, don’t ya know? Everything’s just gonna go away and we don’t have t’do a fucking thing.”

Owen glared up. “Hey, Simeamon? Piss off.”

“Fuck you dude; I say it how it is.”

The tall man’s eyes descended to his phone as he flicked through it absentmindedly. He stopped on his messages, and cursed under his breath.

“Shit.”

Kevin leaned over. “What’s that?”

“We had a rogue running about. About forty minutes ago.”

Kevin placed a hand on his shoulder. “How many of them are there? Can they handle it?” He looked away. “I’m not sure you’re in the right frame of mind to go. You’ve had a rough time lately. Stay here, please...”

Owen sniffed, and rubbed beneath his nose, before swinging his legs off the bed. “They need me.”

The monkey rolled her eyes. “Welp, guess I’m going as well.”

A helpless feeling welled in Kevin’s stomach as he watched Owen don his outfit, pulling the helmet over his head as Simeamon swung her pistol around darkly. They looked at each other, before heading for the door. Kevin pushed himself from the bed and grabbed his boyfriend by the shoulder, pulling him round. He leant forwards, resting his head against the taller man’s chest.

“Look I’m worried about you, alright? Despite everything about you. This isn’t...right. This isn’t the way to make things better...”

Owen looked down with dead eyes, looking more tired and withered than ever. “What is the way, then, Kevin? What the fuck do I do?”

Kevin pushed himself up onto his toes, and gave Owen a quick kiss on the lips.

“Stay safe. Please. I love you.”

Owen nodded. Then he pulled his visor down, and walked out the door. “I’ll be back later.”

Kevin held his hand against his chest as he watched the man and the monkey walk out into the evening fog. The wind blew past him, causing something to rustle in the corner of the room behind him.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Simeamon glanced over her shoulder, watching Kevin disappear into the fog as she walked beside her partner. When he’d disappeared completely, she snorted, shaking her head.

“You are such a fucking prick.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” replied Owen, his voice muffled through his helmet. He glanced briefly down at his phone, before running off into the grey streets, with Simeamon keeping pace without another word.

Cries of anger and fear echoed out in the heavy air as Inez rushed down the footpath, feeling the tremors from Kampoimon’s heavy footsteps behind her. She held her D-SEND close to her, trying to pinpoint where the next noise was coming from, though the shadowed trees above made it difficult to get her bearings.

“Come on, come on, where have you gone...”

Kampoimon’s head tilted, and he looked to the left. “Down there. He’s coming this way.”

“Out of my way!”

Kampoimon lurched to one side, raising both arms as a tall, armoured figure rushed out of the fog. It was some kind of bipedal lion, wearing a black jumpsuit and white armour. His forearms and forelegs were clamped in what looked like cylindrical turbines, which spun rapidly, churning up the fog all around him.

He skidded to a halt, breathing rapidly as he saw Kampoimon, before lunging off in the other direction in a haphazard manner. There was the sound of crashing, and Ceratomon emerged from the mist, stopping himself by planting a hand to the ground. Mark rushed up to Inez beside him. “Where’s he gone? Did he attack you?”

Inez shook her head, and pointed. “He went that way. Who is he?”

“GrapLeomon. He’s an Ultimate level; far stronger than anything I’ve seen before.” The teen rubbed the base of his mask. “I think we’re going to struggle taking him head on.”

Inez held the sleeve of her jumper. “We have to give it a try though. At least keep him away from the town.”

Mark pulled out his phone, dialing a number quickly. “Lonnie, please tell me you’ve found the portal?”

“It’s not too far from where you are. Please tell me you’ve found our runaway.”

Mark looked up, listening as the crashing of trees indicated the panicked creature’s struggles.

“We’ll head over to you. But we need to aim him your way.”

“Roger.”

He hung up, and nodded at Inez. They both rushed off down the trail, following their D-SENDs and the general sound of panic. Kampoimon lurched up and down off to one side, while Ceratomon kept pace just behind, running on all fours to maintain a good speed. Mark glanced behind him, shaking his head slightly.

“It would be an awful lot easier if we had some of the faster Digimon around. Where the hell is Owen?”

“Look; over there.”

Inez pointed, seeing GrapLeomon’s figure hurtle to one side. Ceratomon turned off the track, and the two tried to head him off in a pincer movement, pushing him out into a field. The fog was lower here, rolling across the grass and keeping the large lion man entirely visible. He tried to run, but stumbled and rolled, giving Ceratomon enough time to get in front of him. GrapLeomon pushed himself to one knee, holding up a fist and roaring.

“Cyclone Turbine!”

He spun on one hand, both legs flying out in a haphazard manner. Ceratomon raised his arms, but the air from the blow was strong enough to knock him backwards, causing his feet to dig into the ground. He dreaded to think what would happen if one of those legs had connected.

GrapLeomon descended, landing awkwardly on one knee and crying out. Ceratomon pressed forwards again, with Kampoimon doing the same on the other side, spinning his lance.

“Calm down. There’s two of us. We can stop you if we need to.”

“...get away from me...”

Kampoimon stopped, his eyes widening. “What...did you-“

“Don’t hurt me! Get away from me! I beg you!”

He tried to make a break for it, but his leg twisted sideways, and he crashed to the ground, the turbines chewing up the earth. He rolled onto his back, staring up at both Champions as his entire body shuddered.

“Woah, woah!” yelled Ceratomon, rearing up and raising his hands. “We don’t want to hurt you!”

“You’re lying! You’re all after me! Oh god, don’t kill me!”

GrapLeomon flung his arm sideways, the turbine spinning like crazy and whipping the fog up into a frenzy. He pushed himself up and tried to back away, but Kampoimon was standing behind him and he held out his harpoon, blocking the lion’s path.

GrapLeomon froze, looking back and forth between the two and holding up his shaking arms, tears streaming down his face. “Don’t come any closer!”

“Please wait!”

Inez rushed forwards, holding out her arms as she stood between the lion and her partner. Now she was close up, she could see the full extent of the terrible wounds Grapleomon had sustained. Deep gashes all over his body. A mechanical foot that was spasming and sparking, causing his unsteady run. His eyes were wild, shaking in their sockets, and his stance was entirely defensive.

“Now I get it,” said Mark, his voice grave as he stepped forwards. “The hunters...they found you, didn’t they...”

GrapLeomon flinched, and Mark stopped, holding up both his hands. Inez did the same, keeping her voice low.

“We’re not going to hurt you. I promise. We want to help you, but you need to listen-“

“They’re gonna come for me! They’re gonna find me again!”

GrapLeomon’s leg lurched forwards of its own accord, and he fell to one knee, clamping a hand over his mouth. He scrunched his eyes tight, his mane bristling as he did so.

“I...just...I just wanna go back...I never should’ve come to this world...don’t hurt me...please don’t hurt me any more...”

Mark gently walked forwards, opening and closing his fists beside him.

“We’ve found your way home. We’re going to take you there, alright?”

“They’re gonna find me-“

“We’ll get you out of this place before they can. Alright?”

GrapLeomon looked up, and saw that Mark had pulled his mask down, trying his best at a reassuring smile. Inez did the same, blinking through misted-up glasses.

“It’s going to be alright. We promise. But you need to come with us.”

It was a disconcerting sight, watching as the huge lion man shook uncontrollably, terror freezing him in place. For a moment he stayed stock still, tears welling up in his eyes. Then he shook his head, pressing his teeth together.

“Get me out of here. Get me home. Please.”

Mark took a deep breath, and looked aside at Inez. “Let’s go. Now.”

The two tamers ran forwards, with the terrified lion keeping pace behind them, fast even with his multiple injuries. Mark led the way, with Inez staying back a little, trying to provide some iota of comfort for the rogue. GrapLeomon kept his head down, moving quickly with his turbines spinning at a bare minimum. Ceratomon and Kampoimon flanked either side, blocking off the lion, although they were finding the terrain tough going.

Inez glanced backwards at the hobbling lion, before calling forwards towards Mark as loud as she dared.

“How much further? Can we fight if we need to?”

Mark looked over his shoulder. “Look at what they’ve done to him. I really wouldn’t get in their way if we can help it.”

“Do you think they’re close?”

“I don’t want to think about it.”

Mark held his breath, and pulled his D-SEND out, watching as the faint blinking light grew ever closer. “We can’t be far now...”

A familiar ethereal light caught his eye, and he slowed, before powering his way through the nearby undergrowth. “There! Hurry!”

Ceratomon and Kampoimon rushed forwards, ripping the bushes and ferns aside to let the tamers and GrapLeomon through. The portal hovered there in the centre of the field, swirling and gently oscillating in a torrent of anomalies. GrapLeomon watched its lustre as he stumbled forwards, temporarily hooked by its promise of escape.

For a brief moment Inez breathed a sigh of relief. Then her hand went to her collarbone, and she looked at Mark. “Something’s wrong. Where’s Lonnie?”

As if by magic there was a rush of footsteps to one side as the other girl ran towards them, her pigtails bobbing up and down against her mask. They turned to face her, but her voice sounded out throughout the field.

“Hurry! Get him through now! They’ve got us-“

A shadowed figure emerged from the darkness and grabbed her by both arms, pulling her back into the fog. Mark and Inez gasped, but more figures rushed out before they could react. They surrounded Ceratomon and Kampoimon, reaching out with sparking blades and poles and pressing them inwards towards their tamers. Yet more warriors rushed between GrapLeomon and the portal, closing in and stopping him in his tracks.

They all pressed forwards, forcing GrapLeomon away from the rest of the group. He held his shoulders, his hackles rising and a growl escaping his lips. He thrust his arms out wildly, trying to knock the hunters away, before turning towards the two tamers.

“You lied to me!”

“This wasn’t us!” stammered Inez, looking towards Lonnie, then Kampoimon, then Mark, then back to the terrified Digimon. “We didn’t know...”

There was a hoarse yell from one side as Lonnie broke free from her own captor, rushing forwards and planting herself between both groups. “Leave him alone! He’s going back!”

“You’re unbearably naive. “

The looked behind her, watching as Vex walked out of the fog, his coat blowing out behind him. GrapLeomon crouched down at the sight of him, planting his hands to each side of his head and crying.

“No...not again...not again...”

Vex stopped, placing a hand in one pocket as he stared at the mighty creature. “You’re all getting stronger every day. You terrify me.”

“VEX!”

The man looked towards Mark, who had his shoulders raised. He swung an arm behind him towards the portal. “All he wants is to go home. Isn’t that what you wanted? Isn’t that enough?”

“Look at it,” snapped Vex, pointing at the shivering creature. “It’s bred to fight. They grow weapons from their very bodies. This beast could level an entire building with a single kick. Are you willing to put the lives of the people you love at risk?”

“Why do you think we’re here?” yelled Lonnie, holding her arms out wider. “We’re trying to stop the damage, just as you are. But...Digimon are living, sentient creatures. They have flaws and desires and wants just like we do. They don’t deserve to die!”

Vex froze. His arm tightened, before he pointed behind him. “ Dula, the resonator. We have a job to do.”

Dula rushed off, but she found Mark blocking her way, raising his fists. “You’re not touching that Digimon.”

“Just following orders.”

The boy felt cold metal against the side of his head, and turned around, backing out of Dula’s way as Kade forced him aside. Inez found herself being blocked in as well, causing Kampoimon to thrash back and forth in anger, trying to break out of the circle of electrified blades around him.

Lonnie looked around in desperation, her hand hovering over her D-SEND. “Just...let him go...”

“And then what? It comes back? Brings reinforcements?” Vex turned towards her, holding out a finger. “They have their own world. I’m protecting ours. They come over, they face the consequences. One by one, until they never cross over ever again.”

“He hasn’t done anything wrong!”

Lonnie yelled out and rushed forwards, raising both arms as she tried to tackle the larger man, but he held up his arm and knocked her away, gripping her wrist with his rough glove. She leaned inwards, her eyes fiery behind her mask.

“These Digimon...just want...to...live...”

Something snapped inside Vex, and he pushed her backwards, sending her to the ground. “These DIGIMON destroyed everything I had!”

“Acid Arc!”

Lonnie rolled away as the fog was lit up by an orange flare. Dendromon rushed out, holding flames in both hands as she leered up at Vex. “I don’t much like your tone.”

“You!”

“Watch out!”

From aside, Kade knocked Mark to one side and rushed forwards, holding his baton high. Dendromon barely even registered him running towards her before he swung downwards, striking her across the neck.

“DENDROMON!”

“Silver Siege!”

“Crushing Tide!”

The two Champions reacted in an instant, striking the ground and breaking through the wall of bodies. In the distraction, Lonnie pulled free of Vex and ran towards Kade, holding him by the arm and pulling with all her might.

“Don’t touch her!”

“Acid...Arc!”

Dendromon swung her arm wide, still disorientated as she sent a spray of orange sparks up at Kade. The man leered at Lonnie, before throwing her to one side and raising his baton again.

“Let’s see if I can get some damn closure.”

Lonnie rushed forwards, throwing her body in front of her partner as the baton struck her shoulder. A jolt of pain spasmed through her torso, but she curled up, blocking Dendromon with her body. Kade hissed, pulling his foot back.

“Stupid bitch.”

“Get away from her!”

Mark lunged forwards and threw a punch, striking Kade in the collar. Thanks to the armour it did little to stop the vigilante, but it gave Mark an opportunity to plant himself in the way as well, raising both fists. Kade threw a couple of jabs of his own, but Mark knocked them away as they came. The hunter sneered. “ I thought you people weren’t fighting humans.”

Mark lowered his head, the portal reflecting on his mask. “There’s nothing human about you.”

“Equus Harpoon!”

A rush of energy came from one side as several of Vex’s gang were driven away. Inez stood close to Kampoimon, directing him as he swung his lance back and forth and went for their assailant’s legs.

Lonnie got to her knees, still holding her arm over Dendromon, who clung to her body, blood trickling from a head wound. The girl felt like her insides were on fire, her heart threatening to burst from her chest. She held her D-SEND up, staring at it from behind her mask.

“Come on! Come on! Please! I beg you! I really need you now!”

She slammed it against the ground again and again and again, before staring at the circular screen. For a brief moment she thought she could see a tiny spark behind the dull blackness. Something small struggling to break through.

Then a shadow fell across her and the light was extinguished. Slowly, she looked up to see GrapLeomon’s shuddering form standing up in the centre of the chaos, his turbines spinning at a frightening pace.

“All of you...leave...me...ALONE!”

He roared, and clasped both his hands together, the turbines screaming as they grew in close vicinity.

“King of Fist!”

He brought both fists down against the ground with a blow so hard that the impact barely sounded.

For the briefest of moments everybody in the area found themselves floating, their bodies completely untethered from the ground.

Then the second shockwave came, and they were blasted back as one. Vex skidded on the ground. Dendromon and Lonnie were sent rolling away. Even Kampoimon and Ceratomon were sent to their knees, unable to stand against the immense power of the Ultimate level.

GrapLeomon stood alone, completely out in the open as he slowly staggered towards the portal, the attack having busted his foot even more. Still he pressed onwards, crying openly.

“Let me go...let me go...please let me-“

He stopped, as a figure stood in front of the portal. Dula pulled something from behind her back; what looked like a small rectangular floodlight, with the difference that it had three hefty coils sticking out from it.

“You’re not going anywhere ever again, demon.”

GrapLeomon roared, and staggered forwards towards her, holding up a fist. Until she held the device up, pressing a lever on either side.

The battlefield changed in an instant, with the dull rush of the portal instantly replaced by a savage humming. Arcs travelled between the coils as they began to glow white, but the device itself stayed relatively static. What was visible was the fog, as it swirled around Dula in a pulsing field, reaching out into her surroundings. And most of it was concentrated out of the dish at the front, aimed directly at GrapLeomon.

He staggered, his hands going to his head as he screamed in pain. He lurched back and forth, trying to break out of the field, get out of its range.

But Dula was prepared, as she called out to either side. “ Raif, Brom, Jai. Now.”

Two cables stretched out from beside her as three other hunters stepped forwards, having planted themselves around the rogue Digimon before. All three of them held their own dishes, and they stood in a perfect compass around the Digimon, facing inwards. One wave was multiplied by four, and even more as they pounded against GrapLeomon’s own internal frequencies. A humming increased to a painful buzz. Arcs leapt between all four devices. And in the centre, GrapLeomon’s cries distorted and warped, though they grew louder and louder all the same.

Lonnie tried to force herself up, her shoulder in pain once again as she edged forwards.

“Let...let him out...”

Vex was on his knees, staring at the display before him.

“Never underestimate the human race. We won’t lose to you.”

The lion-man crouched down, holding his hands against his head as his cries deteriorated to electronic whines. The molecules of his body were resonating with the fields, and they were beginning to pull apart. Metal and fur crumbled as one, stretching out and spiralling away in red and orange slivers. GrapLeomon’s great muscles locked up, tearing themselves asunder. His turbines blasted open, leaking quicksilver. With nothing to hold their power back, his arms pressed harder and harder against his own head, until with a sickening crunch his skull caved in. And further and further, his body twisting and compressing and unravelling as his data danced along to the music of death that surrounded him.

Ceratomon was finally able to break out of the deathly hum just enough to raise a fist, pulling the arm back as far as he could.

“Stop...it...now!”

He pressed against the ground and fired, the blow causing a quake. The resonance was broken, and the coils sputtered out on Dula’s device, arcing and shorting. Without the central emitter the other three died down as well, only leaking tiny wisps of steam.

But it was too late. The damage had already been done.

Lonnie stared aghast at the smouldering pile of ashes. Inez held her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking. Mark stood alone, holding his arms down by his sides.

Dula shrugged, pulling the smoking device off her back. “ We’ve broken it again.”

Kade whistled. “ At least it worked. Zeke ain’t gonna be happy though.”

“It keeps him busy.”

Mark turned on the two hunters, raising a fist. “How...the...HELL...can you be so damn callous? You’ve KILLED someone!”

Kade looked back and smirked under his breath, prompting a few murmured laughs from the hunters around them. Dula just tutted, and pulled her head away in disgust.

“I hope you see now what you’re up against.”

Mark turned around, raising his hands as Vex stepped forwards, still a little shaky on his feet, though his voice was as calm as ever.

“You children aren’t needed anymore. We can take it from here. Go home. All of you.”

He stopped, watching Mark as the boy held both hands out in front of him.

“Don’t be stupid.”

“ What else do you expect me to do? Stand back in the shadows while you commit genocide?” He lowered his head, and called out. “Ceratomon!”

The dinosaur reared up behind his partner, smoke pouring from his nostrils and his armour glinting. He glared down at Vex, who reacted in kind, his hand going to his coat.

“Mark...”

The teen hesitated, and looked over his shoulder. Inez was standing, still hunched over, but she stood next to Kampoimon who was swinging his tail, trying to knock away the gang members who were beginning to gather around him once again. Ceratomon had a similar problem, with Kade and Dula marching upon him as well. Vex remained impassable, still poised to make a move.

“Maybe we should end this all right now...”

“Nebula Blaster!”

A blast of light shot out and two of the hunters went down with cries of pain, clutching their shins. The group turned to see Sapiamon standing next to a tree, completely still and deadly.

“I think that’s enough.”

Kade clutched his baton in one hand, a few sparks rushing out from the end.

“Why stop now? I’ve been itching for a-“

Another blast of light, and the man was sent to one knee, the blast having struck the side of his leg. The hunters tensed, reaching for their arms, but not before Sapiamon had focused her aim on Vex.

“Because next time I won’t deliberately miss.” Her finger curled over the trigger, a poisonous edge in every word she spoke. “You’re a lot like us, really. I’m sure you all wanna get home alive as well. So do you think you’re up for it?”

There was a hissing sound as Kampoimon’s harpoon glowed white hot, and a clattering as Ceratomon primed both his hands. They looked at each other, and nodded, utterly prepared to step in if needed.

Vex raised a hand, and waved towards the undergrowth.

“Everyone fall back. We did what we came to do.”

The Digimon didn’t move, simply watching as Vex and his gang disappeared as quickly and efficiently as they’d come, melting away into the fog. The group stayed tense, half expecting somebody else to leap out at them, to try a surprise attack. But nobody did, and eventually they began to pull together. Lonnie stood up, staring down at the silver stain on the grass, with the light from the portal whipping it up and letting it fall down again.

Inez shuffled forwards next to her, holding her mask in her hands as her glasses clouded up with tears.

“How...how could they...be so cruel...?”

She broke down, and Lonnie reached out to embrace her before she fell, holding her tight. She found herself staring at the portal itself, calling out for a Digimon which would now never come. Her nose wrinkled, and she looked away, her eyes falling upon Dendromon. The salamander was stood awkwardly, her head a bloodied mess.

“I’m sorry. I keep failing at this. I’m not...I’m not strong enough for you...”

She sniffed herself, and ran forwards, clutching Lonnie and burying her muzzle against her leg.

“I’m supposed to stop this happening to anyone else, and I’m supposed to protect you, and I’m...I’m so sorry...I’m no good...”

“No!”

Lonnie bent down, still with one arm around Inez, and she leaned forwards and nuzzled the amphibian with her forehead. “It’s not your fault. None of it is. You’re the strongest Digimon I know and you’re doing everything you can. Please don’t lose heart. Not because of this.”

Dendromon sobbed again, and threw her arms around Lonnie, who patted her on the back and whispered words of comfort to her. Inez was left crouched up, still sobbing into her arms, as Syngnamon padded up next to her, completely voiceless.

There was a padding sound as Sapiamon walked forwards, her gun holstered over her back as she gazed up at the portal.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

Mark whirled around, ripping his mask off and glaring at her with furious eyes. “You have some fucking gall.”

Sapiamon flinched, but she said nothing in reply. Mark wasn’t finished yet, as he looked slightly to her right as Owen walked forwards, his eyes to the ground.

“Where the HELL were you?”

He ran forwards, stopping just short of the taller man and planting a palm against his chest, his teeth grinding in anger.

“We could have won. Nobody had to die tonight! Why the hell weren’t you here?”

“...I don’t know...”

“ What the fuck is that supposed to mean? You don’t know? You’re the strongest of us! We need you otherwise this whole thing’s gonna go to SHIT.”

He lowered his palm, not even looking at Owen anymore but just screaming at the dirt at his feet, “It’s never gonna be enough! Every time, no matter how hard I try, it’s never enough. I can’t do it alone! We all need to be on board or more and more people are going to die. Because we’re just never good enough-“

“Mark! Stop!”

The young man jolted out of his fury, looking up at Lonnie with tears in his eyes. For a moment he stared at her, looking more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him.

He stepped back, and dragged his sleeve over his face, still clutching his mask in the other hand. When he looked up, his face was its usual immutable expression.

“What do we do now?”

There was a rumble in the distant sky, and Owen looked up, his face contemplative.

“I think you all need to call it a night.”

He turned around, and beckoned with one hand. “Let’s stay together. It’ll be safer if we go as a group.”

They hurried along, very aware of the cloud cover closing in. They took Inez to the steps of her house first, where she said a tearful goodnight and carried Syngnamon inside, before moving past Lonnie’s street, where she went inside with little to say.

Mark and Owen walked down the streets together, barely exchanging any words, and keeping their heads down as Chromon and Simeamon hid effortlessly in the dark. Eventually Mark came to a stop, turning a keyring in his hand.

“This is me.”

Owen half-turned around, his eyes meeting the other man’s. Mark turned away, but not before Owen spoke.

“I’m not as strong as you think I am.”

Mark blinked, and looked up with an innate curiosity. “I’m sorry?”

Owen placed his hands in his pockets, and shrugged. “Just saying. You’re not doing as badly as you think. Your head’s in the right place.”

Mark pressed his lips together. “I just don’t get you. I really don’t.”

“Me neither.” Owen shuffled on the pavement. “I’m sorry. I should have been there for you earlier.”

Mark held his key in the door, looking down at the wood. Owen became aware of a shadow in the front garden, and by squinting he could just make out Chromon’s silhouette, watching them both.

“...Yeah. You should.” Mark sighed, and looked backwards, his expression softer. “But thanks for this.”

He went inside, leaving Owen alone on the street. The young man pulled his shoulders up, and gently walked away as Simeamon landed next to him from her own hiding place.

“Lookit my Owen, all learning how to be a grown-up real boy like.”

“Piss off.”

“Never.”

There was a crack of thunder from up above, and the rain came down in buckets, splattering against the street as Owen raised a hand.

“Fuckin’ typical.”

The two ran off together, trying not to stumble as the weather worsened around them. Owen pulled out his phone as Kevin’s street came into view.

“Hey dude, bit later than I meant but can you let us in? Please?”

The number fell through, going to voicemail. Owen frowned, and tried again, but the same thing happened twice. He and Simeamon rushed forwards towards Kevin’s flat, only to find the lights off and the door locked. He knocked against it, but there was no reply. No sign of anybody there at all.

Owen stepped back, folding his arms. “You don’t think I pissed him off that much, do you?”

“I dunno. Probably. You were in a hell of a zone when you left.”

“Comforting as always.” Owen held the bridge of his nose. “He said something about a house party earlier. Probably went and spent some time with them. Probably shit-faced.”

“Kevin doesn’t get shit-faced; he gets trousered.”

“Whatever; it’s better than spending time with me...”

The rain worsened again, and Owen stood on the doorstep, water dripping from his jacket. He looked down at Simeamon, and she at him, her expression turning to resignation.

“Don’t...”

Owen sighed. “You should find one of your safe spots.”

“Owen-“

“It was a hard night for everyone tonight. I need to make sure he’s okay.” The young man put his hands in his pockets, looking away. “Don’t worry; I’ll be gone again by morning.”

Simeamon opened her mouth, but closed it again. She could see her partner’s exhausted expression, and the deadness behind his eyes. It was useless to argue. Not that she could anyway when it came to this.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She held out a hand. “Helmet. Jacket. I’ll keep them safe.”

Her partner obliged, passing the top half of his costume to her. She saluted, and disappeared in an instant, leaping up and onto the rooftops.

Owen turned and ran again, getting further and further from the centre of the town until he found himself on one of the outer streets.

Instinctively slowing down, he homed in towards a detached house on the end of the road; one with a mess of a front garden and peeling paint. As he approached the door, he looked behind him, wondering where Simeamon had hidden away this time. He couldn’t know for sure. He made sure not to when he was round this way.

Owen walked inside, and stood for a moment, dripping on the doormat. He pulled his coat in, walking forwards across the scuffed carpet. There was the dim glow of a sidelight coming from a tiny living room as he walked inside, blinking and rubbing his face with the inside of his coat.

A man lay curled up on the sofa; locked in a deep sleep. Owen hung his coat up over the door handle, before walking over to the still figure. He was nearly as tall as Owen, with a rough stubble and many lines adorning his face. The man slept beneath his own jacket; long, and black, with several tears and damage marks. There were papers everywhere around him, many of them damaged from the rain. A pile of leather straps and coiled wires lay strewn in the corner.

There was a coffee table in the centre of the room, carrying a single motorcycle helmet. Painted black, with a pair of angel’s wings drawn crudely down each side. Still pockmarked with the data of many a hapless victim.

Owen reached out and ran his knuckles over the top of the helmet, before looking down at the sleeping man again.

“Rough night, huh dad?”

There was no answer. Owen closed his eyes, and slowly walked out of the room and up to his old bedroom, turning the sidelight out behind him.