Jack, Amy, and Rex remain in the center of the three paths, surrounded by trees, unkempt grass, and night skylights. They shine their lights at the trees.
Amy lowered her weapon.
"Commander." She looks at the abandoned lake through the fork of trees. "It's me, Amy."
"Status?" Commander Yuusei breaks into her coms.
"The base here has been under attack. We believe these ruins are the cause and are willing to extract any survivors. Shall we proceed?"
"Walker alive?"
"Never better." Amy looks to Jack, who lowers his rifle.
"Continued where you are. Amy?"
"Yes, Commander?"
"Come back in one piece. And if all seems dire, retreat. And that's an order."
"Yes, commander."
"I think you left out the part about The tree women." Jack's voice attracts Amy's.
"I'll conclude once we return." Amy turns to Rex. "Caution is our ally. And what the sisters have spoken is proven true. We shall treat the others as Ruin. Understood?"
"Understood." Rex stood up straight.
"Proceed."
Rex takes the lead, followed by Jack and Amy.
"Mr.Walker, is there anything troubling you?" Amy looks down at Jack, who stands a shoulder from her.
"I'm willing to believe I'm not the only one who wants to prove themself." Jack gave Amy a corner eye while she kept her gaze on Rex. "How many trips have you been in?"
"Emblem war, and a few others. Fifth Medical Assitances. Fouth Amu. I didn't figure you weren't listening during our brief with the commander."
"This is nothing to you?"
"I count this as a minor detour."
"Sure, let's go with that." Jack aims his light at the tree on their left. "Just don't deactivate before the fight."
"And how would I tend your wound?" Amy smirked.
They continued along the curved path, eyeing the bright, cold lights pouring in on the right of the path. Across the grey bridge, the trio stopped eyeing a sea of trees and a single radio tower at a distance.
A crowd of purple eyes emerges from the tree line, revealing approaching husks testing their jaws.
Rex, Amy, and Jack raised their weapons and opened fire into the group, scoring headshot after headshot. The trio dents the husk's numbers before they are none.
They pushed up, embracing darkness once more. They snapped on their lights, shining down onto the crowded path before continuing to their destination.
Jack shines his light on the left of him, eyeing the husks at a distance emerging from the swarm of trees, their groans and growls spilling from every direction.
"Remain. And fire with patience." Amy ordered.
The trio stood firm. Jack's rifle shot a bullet that struck the husk's head, causing it to fall onto the unkempt grass. Rex swung his aim, firing from his rifle before hearing a click.
"Reloading." Rex ejects his mag before grabbing another that is attached to his hip. A figure drops onto Rex's shoulders, dragging its claws across his visor and drawing sparks. The ranger reaches for the jogger, who ducks and pulls Rex's jaw, forcing him to move back in circles. "Assistance."
"Rex!" Amy aimed her submachine gun before sidestepping from a claw stab with her back toward the jogger. She faced her opportunist, stepping back from an upper slash.
Amy sidestepped from a side swipe before the amu used the barrel of her RD(Righteous Defender) to slap the jogger across the cheekbone, whipping its head aside.
Amy drives her white metal leg into the jogger, whose leg snaps in half. Releasing a crunch and cry of agony. The jogger falls on its hands and knees. Amy goes to finish the Ruin, but another leaps at her, only for the amu to throw it aside.
Jack fired his rifle, killing the jogger riding Rex, which ripped the side of the ranger's visor. The yakuza fired at a screaming jogger pouncing towards Jack, who stepped aside, watching it roll across the path of brown tiles, painting the tiles in purple liquid.
Jack falls onto his back before taking off, sliding from the path into a swarm of trees.
"AHH!" Jack screamed, rocketing across the unkept grass and into the darkness, leaving his light and rifle behind.
He dug his nails, clawing up grass and soil before rolling on his back and seeing a tendril of wood snake up his leg. His hand snapped to his hatchet at his waist before lunging his weapon on the tendril, cutting it.
Jack does it again, separating nature's hand and causing the ex-yakuza to roll across the ground, panting.
Jack groans before letting out a huff. He pushes himself from the grass and the pink fireweed plants that stand to his ankles before gazing at the surrounding trees, harboring a dark truth.
An animalistic shriek from a jogger forces Walker on his toes. Sweat runs down his face, his hand testing his grip on the tactical hatchet, while Jack's rapid panting is all he hears.
His eyes slowly adjust to the darkness before seeing a silhouette rush him.
Jack leans right, dodging a claw slash from the jogger. He leans left, avoiding another before driving his hatchet into its ribcage, forcing the jogger back.
Jack drives the hatchet into the jogger's neck, spilling blood yet forcing the tool from its green skin. The jogger swipes its claw, flashing its maw while Jack dodges again.
The ex-yakuza drives the spiked end of the hatchet into Ruin's chest, forcing it into the ground before lifting the tool above his head.
"Ragh!" Jack parks the tool into its mouth.
Jack rips the tool from its mouth, painting his shorts and combat vest in Ruin's blood.
Two joggers rushed Walker from his rear and his front. Jack steps back from a slash before rushing under and around another, unleashing a stream of ice into the jogger, who flew across the grass field.
The other jogger pounces on Jack, who rolls on his shoulder from its attempt before clocking the Ruin aside.
Jack whipped out his vendetta, planting bullets into the first jogger, tanking it, and closing the distance. The ex-yakuza drives his hatchet at the jogger, who jumps over and around him, its attention never leaving its future meal.
The Ruin rushes into Jack's blind spot. Jack quickly spins on his heels and drives the tool into the jogger's skull. The ex-yakuza yanks it out, then flicks his wrist at another jogger who lunges toward him, only to fall prey to a trap of ice spikes that crash into a nearby tree.
Mr.Walker huffs and puffs, pouring down sweat, listening to the silence of night and the occasional gunfire in the distance.
The tree branches sway, and the leaves and grass rustle softly. Jack's eyes darted, clenching his teeth at the terrifying abyss beyond the tree line.
His cheek was cut open, his left bare leg and his right arm hiding underneath his black funnel shirt scattered with blue flowers erupted into lines of red liquids spilling from his wounds.
The ex-Yakuza flew across the field before crashing onto his back. He groaned, looking down at the shard of wood embedded in his tactical vest where his heart lies. He rips the shard out with a grunt, eyeing the dip of his blood at the tip of the sharp projectile.
He stood before drawing his head to the side, watching the shard of wood drive into the tree's face a few feet away from Jack. It let out a hollow thud.
Jack flicks his wrist, allowing rows of spike ice to roll towards the tree line and into the abyss.
"AH!" Jack cried out as a shard found its way into his back. He flicks his wrist, allowing his attack to flow into a tree, uprooting it. The branches and leaves cry out, smacking into the ground, allowing dirt to fly.
Jack sidestepped, dodging a shard aimed at his head. He swings his hand, enclosing the front of the open field with his ice. A shard cuts his left leg, and he does the same for the back. More wood shards poured from the sides and at Mr.Walker, taking cuts and plugging the sides.
Jack stood in his bloody, tattered clothes and tactical vest, covered in his rolling blood seeping down his cuts from minor to major and down his limbs.
Mr. Walker takes a knee, plucking the wood embedded in his backpack.
"You were warned." A voice forced Jack's eyes up to a Sister in wood riding a branch from a courteous tree. The tree crackled, leaning its head toward the boundary Jack made. The sister dropped from the branch onto the grass scattered with pink fireweed plants, her pink eyes with a hint of grey pupils staring into Jack's silver, never leaving her sight. The courteous tree returned to its natural posture while the sister clenched her fists at her sides. "Consider this your assistance for our planet."
The ex-yakuza raised his vendetta, firing at the sister, covering her eyes with her forearm. He let out three shots, hearing a click. The sister slowly approaches while Jack ejects his mag.
He watched her hourglass figure close the distance while he exchanged a new mag. Jack steps back from her jagged blade arm, swiping for his neck. He leans left from an upper slash before ducking from another swipe.
Jack fired, forcing the bullet into her eye.
"ARGH!!!" The sister stumbles back before spinning her solid feet, which look like shoes. She swings her arms with class and perception, forcing Jack to gain distance. "Pest!"
She raised her hand to her chin. The pink fireweed plant at Jack's ankles grew its spine to his knees before the spikes along the spine grew the size of a penny.
Jack runs from his position while the plant explodes, releasing its pink pedals into the open air and shooting its spikes at the ex-yakuza, who lowers his head.
A dry metallic scent was released into the air as Jack faced the sister who rushed him with her jagged arms stretched at her side. The sister unleashed a series of swipes from which Jack leaned and stepped, dodging close calls before driving his hatchet into her hand, forcing her to stagger.
Jack fired a stream of ice into the sister, forcing her off her feet and onto her back. She rolls to her hands and knees while Jack rushes with his hatchet hanging along his leg.
He drives the tool into her forehead, forcing her to her knees. He forced the tool into the sister's neck only to jagged her skin, forcing her onto her shoulder and crashing onto the grass.
"Wait!" The sister stretched her hand out to Jack, who swung the hatchet down her neck, making her roll across the ground. "Stop." She looks over her shoulder, only for Jack to cleave her neck from her shoulders. Her head hits the ground.
Jack grunted sharply, collecting his breath as he watched the sister's wide eyes look into the jagged ice barrier.
"Be careful now," Dallas voiced, looking to Jean, who was holding onto the other end of a white queen-sized mattress. "We're carrying a mattress, not a woman."
They carried it along the poolside toward the shed, with Shaun and Alice sitting on lounge chairs against the blue metal plates.
"Right, of course." Jean bites his lip as Alice stands from her chair.
Jean and Dallas throw down the mattress.
"There." Dallas breathed before looking up at Alice and Shaun with his hands on his hips. "The pillows and blankets come after. I'm afraid I'm going to ask you for your ID." He raised a brow.
"Seriously? In this environment?" Shaun grunts, his right arm still in a sling. "I lost my wallet back at the market." His dazed eyes look to Dallas.
"He told you his name." Alice places her fists on her hips. "You asking us all these questions. You should answer mine."
"Kid," Shaun called out weakly. "Shut up."
Alice glares over her shoulder at Shaun before looking back at Dallas.
"My brother. Where is he?"
"Who?" Jean steps closer, standing near Dallas.
"We were here before a creepy crawly chased me off." Alice cocked her head, pushing out her lips. "He's here."
"Creepy crawly? You mean a spider?" Jean raised a brow. Alice nodded. "What does he look like?"
"This tall." She raised her flat hand above her head while standing on the tips of her round-toe maid shoes. "Has brown eyes and a bowl cut. He goes to high school. My brother's name is Akira."
"Do we have an Akira?" Jean looks back at Dallas, texting on his phone with one hand.
"I don't know." Dallas squinted his eyes. "No one knows, but there could be others." He raised a brow. "Is this why you're here?"
"Hmph." Alice nods. "Please find him it's important." She looks up to Jean.
"I'll do my best." Jean nods before looking to Shaun, who slowly grows a weak smile. Shoes smacking on cement make Jean look over his shoulder at Nami, who has a bundle of heavy white blankets held to her chest. At the same time, Nobu follows after with two white pillows.
Nami moved past Jean before setting the blanket on the mattress on the cement. Her eyes look up at Shaun, who studied her features.
Nami's eyes were lime-colored, and her cheeks had transparent freckles. Her eyes looked back at Shaun, whose black pupils grew to life. His smile grew as seconds went by.
Nobu toss the pillows on the center of the bed.
"This should do. Remember to get plenty of rest. And I'll bring in a second serving in a few hours." Nobu looked to Shaun, who quickly broke from Nami's gaze before staring at Nobu, coughing.
"Right, of course. Thanks." Nobu nodded, guiding his large hand on Nami's small shoulder blade. The doctor guided Nami past Dallas and Jean, who soon followed.
Shaun gaze remained locked on Nami's short lime locks above her shoulders while Alice only tilted her head, raising her brows.
The door closes while Alice closes her eyes, flashing her teeth.
"You like her."
"What?! No, I don't." Shaun leans back in his chair, avoiding her eyes.
Alice slowly emerges from behind Shaun's shoulder. Her smirk resembles a cat's, and her slit eyes never left his face.
"You don't look as bad as before. Should I request the nice lady's presence?"
"I bet you don't know what presence means." Shaun groans, sitting up.
"I do! I'm smart, unlike you." Alice glared at Shaun's back.
"You got to come with better insults. I feel like you're hitting me with nursery rhymes. Help me up." Shaun grunts, reaching towards Alice, who implanted her small, warm white hands into his.
She pulled him to his feet before wrapping her arm around his hip, and Alice placed her other hand on his gut, resting her sharp nails on his white dress shirt, which was painted in dry spots of purple and red.
Shaun grips Alice's shoulder before walking towards the mattress on the ground. He sits before lying across their bedding of sheets and heavy blankets.
He sighs and shows off his tattered left dress sleeve, which is ripped to his armpit. A white soaking bandage in red wrapped around and above his elbow.
"You were serious." Shaun looks up at the bright blue sky hiding behind frames of windows. "Just why and the hell you were alone in the first place? Better yet, how long were you alone?"
Alice grabs the back of her palm, looking to the ground.
"I don't know." She shrugged.
"Come on, you gotta know something." Shaun leans on his elbow, releasing a hissed. "How many nights? Before you met me?"
"Three." Alice raised her eyes before looking to the ground.
"What were you doing?"
"I was hungry. And thirsty. I was scared." She falls onto the floor bed before clinging to Shaun's torso.
"Hey! What are you doing?! I think you cut me." Shaun looks down at Alice, whose face is smothered on his dress shirt.
"I want my brother." She croaked into a sob. "I want him." A waterfall of tears wet his white dress shirt as her shaky cries filled Shaun's ears.
Alice wraps her arms around Shaun's chest, causing him to twist his face. Sliver coated the worker only to lower his active face.
"It's alright," Shaun grunts, rubbing Alice's back before looking at his trembling hand encased in silver. He examines the back of his palm, then glances at his reflection illuminated by the warm lights above, seeing his nonexistent eyes staring back at him. Shaun opens his palm on a makeshift sling, seeing the quarter-resting dormant. "It's alright." His breath shakes, patting Alice's back. "Sorry, I asked."
A knock causes Amanda to look over the couch and down a short hall, hiding the door from an angle. Once again, another knock resides, making the teacher rise from the sofa and causing Gabriel to stir awake.
Ms.Yugi peeks through the hole with sleepy eyes at Dallas, with an enlarged head, standing by Nami and Jiro.
"Ms.Yugi," Dallas spoke up, looking side to side. "You up?"
The door swung open with a click as the teacher stood between the door frame.
"I'm sorry. I woke you up, but this is important."
"What is?" Amanda rubbed her eyes.
"Very. Can we come in?"
"Uh. Sure." The teacher moved aside while the three made their way in.
"You weren't lying," Jiro comments, making their way to the living room. "You cooked up a storm."
"Sorry." Amanda watched Nami take a seat on the couch, followed by Jiro. The teacher stops snapping her eyes all over the room.
"Something wrong?" Dallas stood in front of the TV, playing some TV show.
"Uh. No." Amanda held her arms before taking a seat beside Jiro. With the remote, she lowered the volume on the TV.
"Okay, I know this is all sudden, but I must ask all three of you," Dallas corrected. "Were you hit by that space rock?"
"This is all sudden." Amanda lowered her eyes, giving Dallas her full attention.
"It's the fact about the girl?" Jiro questioned.
"And also Shaun. I just saw this morning, along with Nobu, his daughter, and Jean, that the kid could cover himself in sliver." Dallas folded his arms.
Jiro chuckled.
"Of course."
"What made you come up with this suggestion?" Nami spoke up.
"Oh, you know. Let's not forget the traumatic beginning, when all law and order were now on the back burner." Dallas raised a brow, tasting his gums. "Jean is coming with the seed. Better tell it now or never."
"Yugi is infected," Nami answered, getting Jiro to sit up from the couch. "It's not what you think."
"What?! Tha-that's why you coup here all day!" Jiro points to Amanda, raising her hands.
"I'm fine," Amanda reassured. "It's been days."
"She can turn into a ball of flames." Nami cuts in. "She actually tried to kill us at the start. Me and Jean."
Amanda stands from her couch, causing it to screech back, making Jiro stand behind Dallas. She starts pointing down at Nami, raising a brow.
"I don't remember!!" Amanda roared. "So stop putting that on me!!"
"Hey. Hey." Dallas steps closer, raising his hand to Amanda. "I understand. Let's keep our inside voices."
Amanda's fingers brush her eyes underneath her glasses.
"I know. I tried doing that." Her eyes became watery, staring at Nami. "But that wasn't me." She sniffed, wiping her eyes. "It wasn't it." She presses her lips together, lifting her chin.
"What about you?" Dallas questions, gaining Nami's eyes. "Were you hit?"
"Unfortunately."
"What about you?" Dallas looked over his shoulder to Jiro, clinging to his back.
"No! I was in the middle of cleaning one of the rooms."
Dallas pry Jiro's hands off his shoulders gently.
"Now, it leads to Jean."
"The kid is the one who left the dent on the wall. In the break room."
"You're serious?" Dallas cocked his head, turning to the janitor.
"I shite my pants that night. So, I'm not forgetting that anytime soon." Jiro whispered.
A knock erupts from the front door while Dallas holds his hand to everyone in the living room. He makes his way to the door, peaking before opening the door to Jean.
"What did I miss?" Jean looks to Dallas before squeezing past him.
"You're not missing much." Dallas closes the door before following Jean back to the living room.
Jean looks to Jiro with his back hunched, his eyes wavering, then to Amanda, sniffing and clearing her tears with the back of her palm.
Nami only looked over the couch with her elbow on its spine.
"What's going on?" Jean turns to Dallas, raising his palms on his hips.
"You brought the seed?"
"Here." Jean raised his closed fist. "Now, what's going on?" Jean snapped his eyes on everyone.
"You're infected." Dallas voiced, gaining Jean's attention.
"What now?" He tilts his head, squinting his eyes.
"That seed in your palm is not craving for experienced bodies. It's hungry for virgins. No offense. I bet you were a heartbreaker back in your day."
"Far from it."
"While we are here, we should get this test underway, " Nami said, pressing her knuckle along her cheek.
"Of course," Dallas looks to everyone in the room. "Jean's going to be our tester. Anything he says will prove you all can be trusted." Dallas looks at Amanda's red eyes. "Can we borrow your room?"
"Not like. I got any say in this." Amanda said softly.
"I'll remember to make another meeting ground." Dallas looks to Jean. "I'll go first. I'm not infected." Dallas makes his way to Amanda's room, followed by Jean.
They entered.
"I'll go to the other side of the room and then get to you, " Dallas said, standing by the window, pouring bright light into the blue carpet. "And whatever you do, keep your eye on it. Let me see." He raised his chin.
Jean opened his palm to the sickly purple transparent seed. The sickly clouds roaming within the object forced Dallas to wince.
"Okay." He takes a step.
"Dallas." Jean kept his eyes on the seed.
"Yeah?"
"What were you before all this?"
"Just a typical bouncer." He gets close to Jean, his eyes locked on the seed. "Used to work in a night club, After Merits. Not like you ever went."
"That how you got that scar?"
"A few assholes think it's smart to start a fight with a cross-trained fighter. I'll tell you this. No matter how good you think you are. You might be that asshole with a cracked skull."
The seed blinks before Dallas steps back.
"Okay, good." He licked his lips. "Good." He looks up at Jean, closing his palm. "I'll bring the next."
Yuusei sat at a bar with a glass of golden liquid filled to the bottom and a bottle of Alcohol at its shoulder. He takes a sip, taking in the silence before listening to the glass smack the golden wood bar.
The commander surveyed the different colors and sizes of bottles on display behind the bar where he sat.
"Commander?" A voice made Yuusei look over his shoulder at Airi.
"Yes?" He turns back, taking a sip of his glass.
Airi made her way to the bar, walking along the dark brown wood titles before standing behind her commander.
"It's true." Airi voiced. "The sinners are held up there. But we don't have eyes on their commander."
Yuusei turns in his seat.
"How many?"
"About eight on guard. These past few days, they still have the mental capacity to fortify their base. Their creativity is not flawless."
"You're thoughts?"
"All due respect. The Sinners should all die."
"Is this before?" Yuusei raised a brow.
"Both." Airi stared blankly.
Yuusei stood from his stool, pacing past a table of chairs. He was heading towards a silver guard rail supported by a bulky, rich wood below his hips. The commander grabbed the railing and looked down at the basketball court at the civilians' new sleep arrangements.
"This could be a trap, " Yuusei said, looking over his shoulder at Airi, who stood at his back. "We'll wait it out. Until we got eyes on their leader. Do you have the numbers?"
"Just eight so far," Airi answered. "The others are enigma."
"Your dream is as much as mine, but we must keep our wits. They'll pay in blood for what they did to us and these people."
"Commander? These people you let out could be the ones that will give way to our establishment."
"True, but they could also eat us from within. We can't grow crops without plucking out a few weeds." The commander looks to an underpass at the corner of the stadium, where a ranger stands guard. "In the meantime. Go see Nakamura and find out anything about the group. I don't care if she lies. Any information can be analyzed and studied."
"Understood." Airi stands tall, pressing the side of her closed fist on her chest above her heart. She takes her leave.
Airi entered the locker room, taking in the smell of rotten eggs. She walked through the rows of lockers before turning to the showers.
The guard turns to Airi before saluting. Airi looks to Sayuri, snoring while tied to her chair.
"She hasn't bathed?" Airi looks to the guard.
"Sorry, Ma'am. I was going to request a Ranger."
"You have me." She approaches Sayuri with the guard in tow. "Dragged her to a shower stall."
The guard grabs the spine of the chair before dragging the leg of the black steel chair along the white tiles, releasing a squeaking shriek. Sayuri jumps awake at the sudden movements.
The chair's leg hits the shower ledge, just an ankle-high, before the guard drags her to the center of the shower, just above the drain.
"Hmm!" Sayuri shouts through the gag as the guard takes the neighboring stall on her left. "Hm! Hm!" Sayuri glared at the guard and Airi before bathing in shower water.
She screamed while the water forced her dark red crop top filled with bullets and cut holes to cling to her skin while her dirty black jeans, with a large rip, split above her knee and down to her ankles, clung to the shower floor.
The guard drags the cloth gag from Sayuri's mouth and down her neck.
"Now you're crossing the line!" She shouts through her dry pink hair clinging to her face.
"Knowing your abilities, we have to take precautions."
"Precaution, my freckle ass!! I told you what you wanted to know, and this is the thanks I get?" She fidgets in her chair, sliding from the pouring water.
"Stay." The guard drags the chair back into the pouring water.
"Fuck you!" She hops in her chair while the rotten odor subsides.
"Turn it off," Airi ordered, and the guard followed suit. "You needed a shower." Sayuri stops, hopping in her chair.
"Oh, like I don't know that!" Sayari raised her voice. "Fuck you! And Fuck you too!! I'm Private Lazowaski. Reporting for Duty." She mocked before screaming.
She shakes her head, flinging her moist hair and water everywhere.
"Out of all the punishment. This was your breaking point?" Airi squinted her eyes.
"I bought a plane ticket and spent half my savings, bitch!"
"Woah. Hey!" The guard voiced, only to get cut off by Airi raising her hand.
"My apologies. Should've asked." Airi spoke while Sayuri only glared up at Airi from her wet and unkempt hair. "Should I fetch a towel?"
"No." Sayuri looks to the shower floor and lets out a grunt. "You probably couldn't do that right."
"Sure thing," Airi smirked. "Are you willing to let me know more about the sinners? Maybe tell us why you left?"
"Nah." Sayuri forced her lips forward before shaking her head. "I haven't heard from your commander these past hours. I'll wait."
Airi's smirk grew to a smile.
"You know, I'm a little of a hairstylist myself."
"You do that. I'll strangle you with yours." Sayuri looks up from her hair.
"I'll let you cool off." Airi steps back with a smile.
"Why don't you do that? While you are at it, untie me from this thing. I need the can."
"Are we getting a little ahead of ourselves?"
"I mean, I could've killed you by now." Sayuri shrugs. "Maybe while punchy britches weren't looking, I would have broken out from these zip ties either with my limbs attached or, better yet, I've been patient with you." She chuckles. "And this coming from a Luntic." She widened her soulless eyes, releasing a smile.
Her smile turns into a frown.
"You torture me. Wet my hair...You want this to be my breaking point?" Sayuri's brown, soulless eyes remained on Airi, studying her.
Airi dropped her smile, squinting her eyes.
"Let her go."
"But-" The guard starts.
Airi pulled her vendetta from her waist holster before taking aim at Sayuri.
"Let's be clear: I was appointed Lieutenant because I'm qualified. Demands from people like you make me sick. I can't kill you. So, I'll put you on a pike with your hands and feet melted with the steel from our damaged bots your friends destroyed. You'll be our flag to warn your friends and anyone with a smooth brain to think violence is fun. Violence is a duty. Don't test my patience." Airi's soulless eyes stared back, getting a shiver from the guard.
"Crystal clear." Sayuri kept her soulless frown.