Knock knock knock. Skye prayed Cassandra was still awake.

Putting his ear against the door, he heard some quiet sounds from within the building.

Then, suddenly, they stopped.

“Skye?” a small voice asked from inside.

“Yeah,” he answered. “It's me.”

The door creaked open just a couple inches. Cassandra's face was all that was visible inside the dark home.

“H... hey...” he said, unsure of how to hold himself.

“You're okay!” Cass exclaimed with a smile on her face, opening the door for Skye to enter.

He walked forward, still zombified from his encounter. His face was blank, and his movements were stiff.

“Skye...?” she repeated, closing the door and locking it. “Are you okay?”

Skye turned back to her for a moment before he stepped forward, barely keeping his balance, and hugged her. Within seconds, he was crying his eyes out, bawling and sobbing on his sister's shoulder.

“Skye! It's... it's going to be okay! They patched you up at the hospital, right? It's okay...!” she said, giving her best effort to comfort him.

No it's not! Everything's going to shit! I almost died, and now... and now...!

“I'm sorry! I'm so sorry...!” he yowled, unable to think of anything else to say.

Cassandra, too, had begun sobbing. “It's okay now, Skye! You didn't do anything wrong!”

Bullshit! I put you in such a dangerous situation in this cesspool city for what?! Fear of accepting my dad's offer due to some bloated sense of pride? Obsession with my own projects?! Now we're dealing with loan sharks, and... and that horrid fucking monster! You have no idea what I've done to you!

“It's all my fault! I'm so fucking sorry Cass...!” Skye wailed.

“What's... what's going on?” Cassandra stammered, tightening her embrace.

How could I ever tell you what's happening?! You would never forgive me. You'd hate me!

“I... I-I... I'm so shit at all this...” Skye sputtered. He released his hug and leaned back against the kitchen wall, sliding down to the floor. He tilted his head up to the ceiling and let his tears continue flowing.

“Take your time...” Cassandra sat beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. From the corner of Skye's eye, he could clearly see she was terrified.

Skye bawled for a good 10 minutes before he began calming down to the point of being able to speak again. Cassandra remained with him, mostly silent, occasionally rubbing his shoulder.

Skye still wasn't sure what he was going to say. He couldn't form a coherent sentence in his head.

“This is all my fault,” he whimpered.

“What is...?”

“This whole situation! Lower Miyatama is no place for someone like you... like, I mean...!” He paused to catch his breath. “I want you to have a great childhood, you know? And this place, where you can't even go outside without some sort of protection or supervision... that's fucked up! You're supposed to have a life, hanging out with friends, having fun... but this place is so fucked that you're stuck in a house all your life? Sure, Kaori is great, you still get a proper education, but, like... this isn't fair to you at all! And now I'm in big trouble with these loan people, and...!”

Skye caught himself before he mentioned Zev. No matter how clean he was coming with Cass, he could not mention Zev.

“Dad arranged a place for us in Era,” he continued. “It's only going to be available for another month. And... I never brought myself to return his call. I just... I just couldn't! Not after what he did... but we could have been out of here months ago!” Skye buried his face in his hands.

“It's... it's really okay here, you know?” Cassandra began as she wiped her eyes. “Sure, I wish you were around a bit more, but I know you have to work, and that's fine! You get me lots of yummy food anyways,” she continued, forcing a little smile.

Her contentment in Lower Miyatama was at least a small testament to how well Skye's efforts to give her a comfy life had paid off.

“But you could have so much more! I–”

Skye couldn't think of what else to say. He just continued weeping.

“I'm not mad, Skye! And it's not like it's your fault we're living here.”

“But I could have talked to dad already... none of this would have happened...!”

“You said it's available for another month still, right?” Cassandra reassured him.

“Yeah... that's right, I think.”

“Well then it's not too late!”

Hearing those words calmed Skye down just a touch. It's not too late. It's not too late. Breathe, Skye. He cracked a tiny smile, thinking about the possibilities of living in Era.

“We could be living that life right now. I'm so selfish, Cass... if I could've just... got over myself and picked up the phone...”

“It's not your fault, Skye... I mean it! Just because he left us for his job doesn't mean it's your fault.”

“Yeah... I guess.” Skye wiped his eyes. “But at least he still tried to get us a place. And I shut him out because I was still pissed off...”

“Well...” Cassandra hesitated. “I don't blame you, okay? I'm not exactly happy with him either...”

As much as he tried to rebut his sister's reassurances during his meltdown, Skye couldn't deny that she had good points.

“You're really sure not upset with me, Cass?” he asked.

“No way!” She leaned over and looked into Skye's eyes, beaming with hopeful energy.

Skye smiled, wiping his face off with his sleeve. “Thanks, Cass.” He had to make a conscious effort to focus on what she'd told him. “We still have time... it's not over.”

“See! That's right.”

He drew a long breath of air. “I don't know how you do it, what with your constant happiness. Thank you so much...”

“I'm just glad you're okay,” she responded.

He took some time to slowly inhale, then exhale. The floor was getting rather uncomfortable, but he didn't have the energy to get himself up. Hanging out with his sister – the eternal optimist – never failed to soothe his soul; he could endure the floor a while longer.

“I bet there are lots of cosplay conventions in Era,” he said, aiming at Cassandra's fascination with dress-up. “You could be that witch character you love.”

“Yeah!! You could come too!”

“Yep. I think you're still a bit too young to go to a convention on your own.”

“I guess. But that means you have to cosplay too.”

Skye forced a chuckle. “I don't know if I'd be great at that.” Only then had he noticed he wasn't crying anymore.

“You could cosplay as her friend!”

“Isn't her friend also a girl, though?”

“Yeah, but her outfit's really pretty!”

Skye chortled and looked away. There's no way I could pull that off. I'm not pretty enough.

“Mmm... if you don't mind, Cass, I think I should rest for a bit. My head is still a bit sore,” Skye mumbled. “Did you sleep yet?”

“I didn't. I was waiting for you.”

Skye grinned. “Well, it's way the hell past your bedtime. And I gotta hit the hay. All these thoughts are making me dizzy right now.”

Cassandra stood up. “Will you be okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I just need to collect myself.”

“Okay... I'll go brush my teeth and go to bed.” She started walking off down the hallway.

“Thanks, Cass... sweet dreams.”

Even after a few more minutes passed by, Skye couldn't muster the energy to get up. His eyes burned from all the crying; shutting them felt too nice and relaxing to even consider opening them again. He rested his head against the wall, drooping his arms atop his lap.

The floor still wasn't exactly comfortable, but he was able to ignore it for the time being, focusing on other things instead. At the very least, he had peace of mind about Cassandra. She was safe at the moment, thus, he deserved a bit of shut-eye.

His thoughts slowly drifted off...

Skye's butt was sore. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all.

He slowly stood up, inhaling through his teeth at the pain in his tailbone.

Definitely don't do that again, he reminded himself.

Hobbling through the hallway towards his room, he noticed Cassandra's door was still closed, and she wasn't anywhere to be seen in the kitchenette or living room.

I don't blame you. Sleep in, Cass. He wasn't sure what time it was yet, but Cassandra didn't have any lessons with Kaori that day. Skye figured some extra sleep would do her good after his meltdown.

Returning to his room after an intense near-death experience felt strange – as if Skye was somewhere he shouldn't be.

His bed was mostly made, save for the quilt Ray had dragged outside to bundle him in on the pavement. It was folded at the end of the bed, still soiled.

Guess I'll be using my coat as a blanket for a while.

Everything else was still just as he left it. His phone laid beside his mess of electronics dedicated to researching madeakelor, his favourite lighter sat just beside it on the corner of the desk, the curtains were closed, and his computer was off. Although, Skye couldn't remember if it was off before Zev happened, or if Ray turned it off.

He pulled back the curtain just enough to confirm the window was shut and locked (which it was).

He rolled his chair out from under his desk and flopped back in the seat. His first instinct was to message his friends for some quick comfort, but he just leaned back in his chair, his head craned up at the ceiling.

Smile, Skye. Come on. Force it out just for a sec.

Despite his best efforts, he couldn't do it.

Skye's call to Velvet Crumble to discuss what happened went fairly well. His boss was willing to cut him some slack seeing as he just got out of the hospital, and he was cleared to have tomorrow off.

The bad news is it was already just past 4:30pm – he'd slept on the floor way longer than he anticipated. Skye still wasn't sure if he could talk to his friends about some of his more pressing matters, but they were at least able to give him some small distractions before he tried figuring out how to proceed.

He gathered the energy to open his computer's chat program. He rested his hands on the keyboard, staring blankly at the screen.

“i think i need to quit my job.” Skye typed to Saviour_Blue and fucktowntyrant (whose status was set to “away”).

“Really?” Wrench replied within seconds.

“yea.”

“What's up? Did the monster come back?”

“uh, yeah, lmao. i think i've had enough near death encounters in the last week to last a lifetime. Ray literally saved my life yesterday. that same monster was seconds from eating me and ray came and shot it.”

“Oh... shit. Are you okay?”

“it gave me a small concussion and dislocated shoulder. i just got out of the hospital. and i don't think i can do this shit anymore.” Skye was unsure if telling his friends about his encounter with Zev in the subway was a good idea.

“I see... if you quit your job, how will you support yourself?”

“idk. moving out of miyatama is a good first step.”

“Ah.”

He knew Wrench wouldn't be too thrilled to hear their pal might be moving away, but there was no way his current situation was sustainable. He had to look after himself.

A few moments later, Ray's status changed to “online” and he started typing.

“skye was hanging a foot above that cunt's open mouth when i popped its ass and it dropped skye on the ground” Ray explained. “had to call an ambulance, it was harsh”

“Damn...! I'm really sorry. I just hope you're safe, at least?” Wrench wrote.

“safe is not a word that accurately describes me right now.” Skye paused for a moment. “but i am in my house, wounds treated, doors and windows locked. honestly? i should get myself a gun at this point.”

There was a period of silence before Ray began typing again.

“come over tomorrow”

Skye knew what that meant. “i don't think i have the disposable income for one right now.”

“mfer i would rather u owe me than u be 6 feet under. if u get killed i'm digging up ur grave and beating the shit outta ur fkn corpse. come over tomorrow and upgrade the steak ur gettin me to a pub night on u and call it even k”

“well...” Skye typed. His experiences with being in debt to people were already subpar at best, but he knew Ray well enough to trust him.

“okay,” Skye continued, “i can't promise you when i can take you for a night out, but i will, all right?”

“yep” Ray answered. “be home all day tomorrow so come over whenever”

Not like I don't already have experience possessing illegal objects, he told himself, thinking back to his madeakelor project. But am I seriously about to buy a gun off my friend?!

“and those loan sharks” Skye typed, but deleted before sending it. If he started talking about the sharks, he'd have to talk about Zev.

I don't even have the money to pay those sharks. Maybe Zev is a blessing in disguise. I manipulated an alien monster to eat one of the sharks to buy me some more time... and save Ray's hide. Maybe that's why I'm feeling so numb. This is insane.

He groaned. His thoughts shifted over to his supposed meeting with “Ray” that night. It was a shot in the dark – there was no way of telling if that shark would be outside his home on the street in the same spot as his last encounter, or if he'd even be wearing the attire Skye described to Zev.

Should I call them to have us meet there? No way. That'd set me up to look like I was the one who laid the trap.

Should I try to wait around outside and maybe lure them to the spot...? No, stupid idea.

Maybe I could use Zev as some sort of power play. Get all intimidating, tell them I'll kill the rest of you sharks if you keep coming for me. Skye laughed. As if I have the balls for that. They'd probably just shoot me in the face then and there.

He was tempted to message the actual Ray to see if he might be interested in helping act as some sort of lookout, but he was already doing so much for Skye – he wouldn't feel comfortable asking for even more.

He looked over to his desk where the madeakelor project lay unfinished. His custom lighter was sitting on the far corner; he grabbed it in a hurry and cupped it in his hands, slowly flicking it off and on, staring at the tall, bright flame.

He took a deep breath.

I'll wait... and if the shark isn't here by 5:30pm or so, I'll call them. Act like something came up and I'll get the money to them tomorrow. That will probably get someone to come.

Skye didn't recall giving Zev an exact time for the meeting with “Ray” either. The number of unknowns made it a difficult game to play.

…And how am I going to deal with the aftermath if this actually works? That shady loan company isn't just one person. They'd know something was up.

In a perfect world... Cass and I would be long gone by the time they realized their henchman was dead. But... I don't even know if that place dad had for us is still around.

Skye stopped flicking his lighter and looked over at his phone. He stared at it for a good half minute, pondering all the ways the call to his father could go wrong.

No, no more fucking anxious baby Skye. I need to do this. No hesitating anymore. Just fucking do it.

Without thinking, he put the lighter down and picked up the phone. His contact list still had his dad's work number on it, so he pressed the button to speed-dial it.

He held it up to his ear, heart racing, preparing for the worst.

...Ring...

He heard a chirpy, female voice.

“Thank you for calling Maroon Corporation's Era branch. Your call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes.”

Ah. Yeah.

“Tired of business class space travel? Sign up for Maroon's Shipyard Sweepstakes for a chance to win your very own two-passenger Griffin-class HLC craft for personal excursions all over the galaxy!”

Skye dropped his phone on his lap and rolled his eyes. He wished he could give Maroon's management a piece of his mind for running advertisements before letting him get on with his call.

Eventually, he put the phone back up to his ear when he heard the automated voice explaining the main menu. The menu brought him over to “contact an agent,” asking him which branch he wanted, which department, if he knew the extension of who he was trying to contact (he'd forgotten what his dad's extension was), eventually leading him to a generic customer service representative.

Skye asked to be directed to Reo Devereaux's work phone, and then he waited once again.

Ring...

...Ring...

His heart pounded with every chime of the phone. He started hoping his dad wasn't around and he could just leave a message.

...Ring...

...Ring...

...Ring...

“Hello!” Reo's voice greeted Skye.

“Uh, hey dad–“

“You've reached the office of Reo Devereaux. Sorry I missed your call – leave your name and number and I'll get back to you ASAP.”

“Ah,” Skye sighed.

The phone played a long beep.

He focused his mind and began talking.