The next two months passed quietly on the surface, but underneath everything was shifting.
The Runaway House settled into a nice peaceful rhythm. Kids came and went. Some stayed getting their own home, and were able to find a sense of normalcy. Some that were older left with jobs lined up, scholarships secured, or when they could leave for bootcamp.
Others simply disappeared into better lives without ever saying goodbye. While some left for different cities, states, countries or planets when the opportunities came. The building breathed fine either way, electricity, water, and a clean livable space. It had become something real thanks to everyone's help.
And in the background, I did studies at the Library sometimes with Jane and Victoria, but most of the time by myself. Jane would disappeared for hours on some days and come back without a word, I didn't pry but I knew she was hiding something. While Victoria jus did as she pleased, whether tagging along with me or disappearing for hours, and coming home covered in dirt, but she never explained herself.
I would have to find out her she is at some point. Ether she is a Cerberus handler meant to keep tabs on me, or she is a hiding something else, the best case is she is just a runaway who is just living her life. Worst case she is some crazy chick who escape the mental asylum, and she is good at hiding it.
Besides that I I kept talking to caged_bird. Almost every night. Sometimes short messages. Sometimes hours-long conversations when the time zones aligned just right. She was sharp. Too sharp for someone trapped in a gilded cage. Her words and idea's were calculated.
I don't know what she looks like, but she is clearly some rich man's daughter, who feels like she is in danger. Eventually, as we grew closer and made plans, one of them became more solidified.
Her sister was gonna be safe. She said it casually at first, like she was afraid saying it out loud might shatter it.
A secret benefactor. Someone her father had once worked with. Some sort of old work colleague who despised the way her father treated his so called family. Apparently this benefactor is more wealthy and connected, but even more quiet. They offered to take her sister in, set her up with a new family.
I asked if she was okay being separated from her sister.
She said it was for the best. They would draw a bigger target together, plus she didn't want to drag her into a dark world. I thought this girl seemed very good for someone who acts cold sometimes through her messages.
"But there's a condition," she typed.
I already didn't like where this was going.
"I have to leave Australia on my own and stay low for a couple of weeks. They said once I'm gone, and do that. They will handle everything else."
I stared at the message for a long time. It felt off. Too clean and convenient. But my job wasn't to interrogate her benefactor's motives, it was to get her out. Whatever game was being played, she needed to be off the board first. And if I need to intervene further I will after I know who she is dealing with.
I told her I'd still help. That same week, Jane came to me with bad news.
"Finch and his gang had escalated things." She said sounding annoyed. They just started in dealing in Red sand."
I sat at the dining room table and said. "Explain."
"They weren't just selling some stuff here or there. They are in full distribution. He and his crew had started pushing it openly, testing their territory. What's worse, they'd come by the building. Mostly when we aren't around. They didn't draw their blaster pistols, but they made sure the kids saw them." Jane said as she crushed the metal cup in her hands easily.
" They said Finch talked loudly about expansion. About "big moves." About how smart people either joined up or stayed out of the way. I take it he want's us to join his gang or he might hurt the kids here." Jane's jaw had been tight the entire time she told me.
" Thirteen. They didn't just threaten the kids directly, they threaten our home, the place we built."
I leaned back in my chair, my arms crossed, as I looked out the patio to the cloudy even sky. "How do you want to deal with them then?"
She hesitated. "We avoid them. As much as possible."
I stared coldly at the outside. "That won't last."
Jane frowned. "Thirteen—"
"Red sand spreads," I cut in. "Someone here will get hooked. It's not a matter of if, but when. Then other drugs could be spread throughout the city. It's just a matter of time, and if they recruit the kids from here, then this place will be a house for drugs, violence and more. Then the cops and more will come here, and shut this place down hard. Then those kids are back to where they were before, if not worse."
Jane looked down at the crushed cup. "I don't want to drag everyone into this."
"It doesn't matter if you want to leave the others out or not," I said coldly. "Wars don't start because people want them. They start because someone refuses to act while the threat grows. Neutrality only exists if you have the power to enforce it."
She looked back at me sharply. " So what your saying we go there beat them up and taking on god knows how many people. They have numbers, and weapons. Thirteen we're not invincible."
I sipped my tea. I'm not yet invincible, but I'm more then enough for these punks. I thought.
"I'm not saying we are," I said calmly. "But if you want peace, you establish rules. And for rules to be established and matter, consequences have to be real. They have to know we are and to threat to not be messed with. Simply beating them up will not solve the problem but make it worse."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Thirteen… are you saying we kill them?"
I didn't answer. I just looked at her with a cold stoic expressionless face.
Silence filled my living room.
"Why can't we just call the cops?" she said finally.
"Because that brings attention here," I replied. "To the building. To the kids. And once that door opens, it doesn't close again. Not to mention calling the cops wont stop the next group our the one after that. They will find new soldiers and dealers in a matter of days."
That was when Victoria spoke out of nowhere.
She stood up from behind my kitchen island counter, arms swinging slightly, as she was drinking juice straight from my fridge like she owned the place.
"He's right you know," she said casually. "I hate killing too. But fear works. Violence isn't the only answer, but it is an answer, And it's a very effective one."
I turned my head slowly. "When did you get in my unit."
She smiled. "I made the keys, remember? I was sleeping on the floor."
Jane and I both stared at her. "Why were you sleeping on the floor?" Jane asked.
Victoria just shrugged and kept drinking the juice.
I frowned internally. I hadn't sensed her. No movement. No emotional spike. No psychic ripple. Nothing. That bothered me more than anything she'd say. Am I getting soft?
I turned and walked into my room without another word. Pulled my backpack from under the bed. Unzipped it.
The Cerberus pistol laid there in pieces. Methodically, I began reassembling it quickly.
"Look I'm gonna take care of this problem tonight, then I'm going to leave for Australia right afterwards" I said calmly.
Victoria's eyes lit up. " You gonna help that caged_bird girl, and her sister?"
"Yes. Not to mention when the police come looking I won't be anywhere in the country, incase I get sloppy. But I am gonna take care of Finch and whoever he is dealing with."
I turned back toward Jane, pistol fully assembled in my hand. As I summoned my omni tool, to buy a last minute ticket.
"Jane. Are you coming or not?"
Victoria hopped off the counter and pulled out her own pistol from her waist, grinning. "I'm definitely coming." She paused. "Let's do a shot before we go." As she showed a bright smile.
Jane sighed deeply. "I'm coming too. I don't like it, but you're right."
I then look to Victoria and shook my head. "Victoria, you're not coming."
Her smile fell instantly. "What? Why?"
"I need someone to protect this place," I said. "Jane will watch my back. I trust you to keep everyone here safe here."
She opened her mouth to argue, then stopped. When Jane cut her off.
Jane nodded once. "I will watch his back. And I agree with him, your the best one to watch out for the kids here."
"Fine I will keep this place safe." Victoria then went under my sink and pulled out a M-22 Eviscerator shotgun. She had a devious smile on her face. " No ones gonna mess with us now
Jane and my eyes widened from the sight.
"Victoria where did you get that?" Jane asked.
"How long has that been down there?" I asked.
Victoria smile widely. " Oh Jane I know a alot of dangerous people. Thirteen being one of them. And Thirteen, what haven't I hidden in this place." She giggled.
I didn't say anything and just made a mental note to search this unit for everything. For once this girl actually scares me. "Good," I said, pulling on gloves. "We leave now. I've got a flight in two hours."
Jane blinked. "You think we can take down a gang in two hours?"
"No not two hours. I just need thirty minutes" I replied flatly. "The rest is for their suppliers, intimidation, and sending a message to every local gang, and the cops, to leave this place alone."
"That's impossible," Jane said.
Victoria laughed, draining the rest of my juice. " No he's right, I've seen him do worse back in the UK."
Jane and I grabbed a hoodie and pulled them on. As rain began to fall, when Jane and I stepped outside, the city darkening under the afternoon sky.
Jane grabbed a pistol and put it in her waist. 'We should go."
I nodded. My amber eyes reflecting the light of the distant buildings. " Yeah. Lets go take care of our bug problem."