Bast had finally pushed himself out from his hiding spot -- the flutter of a soft curtain hitting the top of his head; his knees shaking, breath ragged.
The voices and shouts continued to plague him, as even though the Warrens had been extinguished into darkness... it had sounded chaotic.
"I think it's time to go!" a few men resounded, their eyes straining to adjust to the change in scenery. It seemed everyone had unanimously agreed...
The darkness hadn't lifted. If anything it thickened -- a damp, suffocating blanket that pressed on the square land. The bins that once crackled with fire, now sat as dull metal husks. Every remaining breath from those who hadn't already dispersed from the absurd events now steamed in the air like ghosts fleeing from their very mouths.
'Quickly!' Bast thought, the text laid across his eyes reminding him.
[Payment Pending]
There was a cost coming... something he didn't know of, but also something he didn't want to pay here.
But before he ran, his eyes quickly looked around:
"Ghhh---" a few grunts and groans from the guards toppled over rummaged. At the same time, the sounds of frantic collections of personal items filled the air. Anything important was taken by those residents the guards had viewed as less than 'rats'.
The Warrens were dispersing.
Whilst that was occurring: "Ezel! Where are you!" a shout filled the air. It was the mother the guards had laid to the floor -- her son torn from her arms. "I'm here mama..." the boy echoed through the dark -- his eyes frantically scanning the air trying to find his mother, as the guard who had grabbed him, stuck him in a corner after being ordered to approach Bast's position; his fate now tied to the floor toppled over.
A few soft steps amid heavy ones... and the pair had reunited -- their faint cries filling the air before the mother had dragged him away quickly.
'It's time,' Bast thought as his palm clenched the coin; he didn't know what was coming, but it had temporarily opened a window for him.
"To think you'd bond with a relic here...." A chill shot down Bast's spine. Something had rapidly approached, its silhouette towering over him instantly...
It was that figure he had seen not long ago.
It was Silver.
"Shi-" the word was cut short. Something in Bast's chest clenched. A cold warning. A pressure he'd felt even behind his eyes, like the Coin in his palm had too flinched. There was no time to think.
His body reacted before his mind. He threw himself sideways, mud patches splashing under his person as Silver's fingers sliced through the space he'd previously stood -- a sharp exhale cut through the air as he did so.
SHAHH!
"Urrggh!" a shot of pain filled Bast's shoulder as he met the ground.
"I can't let you leave. Now that's for certain," Silver had muttered under his breath, his head turning towards Bast -- the boy in question having to dig himself back up from the ground immediately. His voice was low. Not angry. Resolved.
"Haa..." a short exhale dug out from Bast's lips. His amber gaze looked strained and tired. It had truly been a long day. "You must... love your job," Bast mumbled, his vision slightly wavering. His counterpart didn't even twitch at the remark.
Suddenly, a new set of text filled Bast's vision:
[Cost Collection Interrupted.]
[External threat detected.]
[Recalculating....]
Bast's breath caught.
"Wait--what?"
[Danger Level: Critical]
[Delay Requested...]
[....Request Approved]
What was going on? A delay in collection?
WAAA! WAAAA! WAAAA!
An alarm rang through the air suddenly as Bast looked up -- his heart reacting wildly at the ruckus. The sound immediately prompted a jolt in those still plastered in this dark square of land. "Fuck... more guards!" a resident shouted. There was no more time.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Stomps ran wild as children and others ran through alternate exits -- some stored within their own homes, whilst others used the safety of pot holes.
It all cleared out... until it was just Bast and Silver left standing -- the other guards still laid out across the floor.
'No...' Bast thought, his eyes quickly returning to the man in front of him.
"Sounds like you are out of luck," Silver remarked, before taking a heavy step forward. "Whatever you've bonded with... I'm sure it can be ripped out of you." There was no kindness in his words. He meant every word...
[Warning! Stakes reaching critical levels!]
[Intent must be registered!]
'What intent!' Bast grew restless as his face strained. What did the coin even mean? He was right to question everything, but he was wrong to do it now...
WAAA! WAAAA! WAAAA!
The alarm ripped the Warrens apart. Boots thundered through the darkness ten new guards poured inside, beams of light slashing across walls. Shadows twisted and stretched as they emerged under the chaos.
"Sir-!" a voice yelled behind Silver, but he didn't even flinch. His eyes stayed locked on Bast. 'He's ignoring them?' Bast realised. 'I'm really going to die aren't I....'
As if the coin had heard him, it vibrated in his palm, faint but sharp:
[Warning! Chance will take over if decision is not made!]
Bast read the message as strobes of lights hit his figure. For some reason, he didn't like that message. He hadn't liked it earlier when the Coin had flipped for him, even if it had benefited him this time. The fact that his luck was overshadowed by some sort of gamble...
'At least let me gamble on myself!' his heart pounded. 'Then again...' he looked around the Warrens. Home wouldn't be something he'd use to describe it... but it was still his. And now it was covered with guards shouting:
"STAY STILL!"
"Suspect in sight!"
"Need a two unit over here, multiple injured!"
Bast's pulse hammered hot against his skin, his breath shaking. 'My luck really is shitty....'
[Warning: Chance will take over if intent is not registered]
WAAA! WAAAA! WAAAA!
The sound killed his ears. Bast hissed under his breath before he offered a light exhale, one that could have been mistaken for a chuckle.
"M-My intent?"
Silver watched steadily as newcomers approached slow. It had already been reported of the relic responding to the suspect. They didn't know what to expect, so surrounding him was their best bet. 'Go on. Make a move," Silver thought, his visor reflecting the pale flashlights around.
Bast shut his eyes for half a second, if that. As soon as he did, his mouth parted, his ragged appearance in full view.
"I want to escape."
Fwwwiip!
The coin rose through the air in a straight arc, that familiar sound filling the air. He had flicked it up from his palm.
[Flip Registered]
Something inside Silver screamed at that moment. To this day he still thinks of that moment.
"I shouldn't have let him flip that coin."