With shaky hands, Layla shut down the HACK. The stormy ocean world disappeared, leaving the two friends staring at each other. Both silent. The implications of the Council's symbol going unsaid. Layla's mind was racing a thousand miles a minute as she cursed herself over and over again, forever going into the damn room.

Jogen broke the empty quiet first looking down at the large wrist unit. "We can't keep that. I don't know what it is but anything to do with the Council is bad news Breezy."

She gazed at the HACK longingly. Finally, she had her hands on something that literally felt like it was made for her, and of course, she couldn't have it. There had to be some way to keep it.

"Breezy, we can't, and you know it. We would be a target no matter where we went."

"I know." She said grudgingly. "I'll dump it as we are leaving."

Jogen sighed in relief, "Good, good. Okay, given what that thing is connected to we can't wait—" a cry pierced the thin walls of the apartment.

Rushing to her window, she looked out to see Praxis Sect members accosting the landlord. Having a strong feeling, it had to do with precisely what was on her wrist. She looked at Jogen, and the two decided that they might want to make themselves scarce.

Cracking open the door, Layla peeked outside in the hallway, and she slid it closed again. She was right. Praxis ascendants were going door to door, pulling their neighbors out of their flats. She thought fast then and pointed to the fire escape.

Jogen nodded, and they made their way to the top of the building. Layla flipped a board up with a foot and placed it across to the apartment beside theirs. Making the way down the other building's stairwell, she shouldered her bag as they walked out into the street, acting like nothing was amiss. Blending into the crowd.

As they were about to turn the corner to a different street, she caught the voice of one of the Sect members yelling.

"It is on the move. Elder"

"Where you imbecile?"

"That way el-Elder. It's moving in that direction."

Layla didn't have to look back to know which way the man had pointed. Cursing her shit luck, she started running, Jogen hot on her heels.

"It would be pretty freaking great to have some help, Atom." She muttered as they ran.

Golden light in the shape of an envelope flew out from her chest and zipped away at impossible speeds, and it was gone. She was so startled by the action that they missed the alleyway she meant to take. Turning around, she saw the Praxis members in the puke yellow robes rushing their way.

"That must be it. She has the relic."

Damn, how the hell are they tracking this thing.

Sprinting on, they took the next side street. Layla tried to remove the HACK. She pulled and ripped at the thing, but it refused to budge. The straps wouldn't even leave her skin. It was like the thing had bonded to her body.

"Dump it Layla. They must be tracking it somehow."

"I'm trying you butt pirate. It won't come off. It's glued to my skin or something."

"Fuck!" Jogen swore breathlessly as the two subconsciously picked up the pace.

"Stop right there! You are going to be taken into custody by the Praxis Sect." Came the shouts of Praxis members that Layla assumed were in possession of the tracking device.

The two ignored the shouts and cut down another side street, breaking the sect member's line of sight. Layla's breathing quickly becoming more labored as the constant all-out sprinting took its due on her body. Jogen seemed fine, though. If she wasn't with him, he would most likely be able to evade them. He was the more athletic street runner.

"If we have to chase you you're going to pay for it," came a mocking shout mixed with the laughter of the other sect members.

She ignored their warning. Praxis members were known for their sadistic and ruthless nature. That's why they couldn't stop. Their only chance was to lose them in the streets. The feeling of helplessness rose up in her. Trying to steal her will to keep going.

She couldn't stop. The sect members had seen them, their laughs constantly mocking their tries to escape. The snot-robed monsters could catch the duo at their leisure. It wasn't like they could do anything against a single ascendant, much less several.

One of the most bullshit things about being born on an ascendant plane was that you were not born ascendant. You were just aware it was possible. As much good that would do for you. The knowledge and training are only available to the wealthy or powerful.

Layla felt the stolen slate from the night before bouncing around in her pack. A slate full of the very information they need to start down that path. The HACK on her wrist and the mysterious book were an even better prize. Of course, someone would show up immediately to try and take it from them.

What absolute shitty luck. We hit the jackpot only to be robbed immediately after collecting the prize.

They ran and ran, but no matter which way she turned or the alleyway they took, the sect members were right behind them, laughing. Having a game of the chase. She wanted to cry. It just wasn't fair.

Layla turned down an alleyway between two broken-down buildings. Jogen gave a cry of pain, and she heard a crash. Layla stopped and turned around to see Jogen face down on the ground, struggling to rise. A Praxis sect member's foot holding him in a place like he was a child.

"Give us the relic girl and we will let your friend go." Said a dark greasy haired man. He looked more like a thug than an ascendant. Vomit robes dirty with drink.

"Run Breezy. Ru-" Jogen's voice cut off as the greasy applied pressure to his back.

"You be silent now. The relic girl or I pop his head like a melon. You!" Said Greasy, pointing at one of the other members. "Go get the damn thing from her. Search her while you're at it. There's no telling what else they pilfered from the room."

"It be my pleasure elder," came a deep slimy voice.

The voice owner moved out from the back of the group of members and made his way over to Layla. He was large and brutish. Everything she expected a thug to look like. Her mind screaming at her to run, something she would never do to her friend. She stared down at Jogen's face. He kept mouthing for her to run as blood slowly trickled out of the side of his mouth.

Tears started slipping down her face. She knew they wouldn't be leaving this alleyway. She could see it in the eyes of the big one. This was all a show to sate their sick idea of entertainment.

"Aww, it's going to be alright." Said the approaching bruit info kindness. "Just give me the relic and we will let you go. I promise."

Layla shuddered as the man started searching her. His calloused hands moving over her body. Finding nothing, he grabbed her rear and squeezed so hard that Layla tried to cry out before his other hand covered her mouth.

"Where is it, little bird? Just give us what we want and your friend will have nothing to worry about. The elder told you that we would release him." He cooed in her ear.

The man disgusted her. The smell of rancid sweat and moldy cheese-making Layla wanted to vomit. She thrust her bag at the man's chest as hard as she could, but it was like shoving something into a brick wall. Either way, it caused him to let go of his grip on her.

He rummaged through her pack, finding the slate. He turned around and walked over to the elder.

"Look what we have here Elder." The big man held out the slate to Greasy.

"And the other item." Greasy said as he took the stolen slate.

"I didn't see anything else Elder. She doesn't have it. Nothing but junk was left in her bag."

Layla looked down at her wrist, and the HACK had disappeared.

"Then where is it then disciple," Greasy said to a thin nerdy-looking member.

Sweat was pouring down his face, and he looked pale. "I uh… don't know el-Elder. The signal is g-g-gone sir. We lost it at the apartments." The thin man continued to pale as Greasy eye him. His face displaying his displeasure.

"No matter, it will show back up at some point. Those things can be tricky but they always show back up."

"You have what you want. Please let my friend go." Layla pleaded. The sect members all turned their heads her way. The looks she was getting from the group caused her stomach to tighten.

She didn't care what they did to her as long as Jogen was safe. He had the necklace on. That would give him enough money to have a good life. Her tears continued to fall like the rain as she looked pleadingly at Greasy.

He tapped his chin like he was mulling over the statement, then said, "Well you did give us back the relic. Release the boy."

"But Elder." said the one who'd searched her.

"Now now Danto. I gave the girl my word. I said I would release the boy and I will."

Layla held her breath as they picked Jogen up and let him start walking towards her. Her heart began to unclench. They were going to make it out of this alive.

Jogen smiled once he was almost to her. Layla grinned right back. "Looks like we lucked out this time Bree-" Jogen never finished the sentence.

A fine red mist struck Layla's face as Jogen's head vanished. Layla followed his corpse as it fell to the side. The lifeblood of her best friend fountaining out against the dank alleyway's wall like some homeless man taking a piss. The world around her shattering and reforming rapidly as her mind tried to cope with the sudden event. Outwardly, nothing had changed. Smile bright as sunshine on her blood-spattered face.

What just happened.

A white light flashed under his shirt.

What just happened.

The flash turned into a faint luminescent glow that was barely perceivable.

What just happened.

Layla thought that was odd.

What just happened.

Layla was eight again. The smell of damp, rusted iron assaulting her nose as she took in a breath to scream again.

What just happened.

"I think you might have broken her Elder." The voice is close but distant to her broken mind.

"Not yet boys, not yet," said Greasy with a chuckle. "Who's going first?"

The sect members laughed and jostled each other. Talking about how long so and so would last with Layla. Her gaze never wavered away from Jogen's body. Lying amongst the trash and debris in this forgotten alley. Unmoving and lifeless.

Detachedly, as the first man grabbed her arm, Layla thought about what was about to happen. She would be raped repeatedly and most likely killed in this dank, nasty alleyway right beside her best friend's cooling corpse.

She considered that clinically. Why? Why would something like this happen? The only thought in her mind was how unjust the universe was that she lived in. Gods and immortal beings walked the planes in the flesh doing and creating wonders.

The Mantles and their Council just stood by while the powerful took what they wanted. Weren't the Mantles supposed to be the guardians? Protectors of the light and life. Warriors of justice and freedom.

The tears started slipping down her face again. She slumped, letting her legs give out, and closed her eyes. Resigning herself to the shit hand, she had been dealt.

That's when she felt the ground shake and loud booms all around her. She looked up, and a massive beautiful white barrier was in the sky. A familiar warmth started soothing her body. A tune full of bass started playing with such intensity that she thought her ears were going to pop.

Is that music?

The goons holding her let go, and Layla fell to the earth. The jarring music derailing the loop her mind had been on. Her mental haze clearing, she glanced back over to Jogen's body. Panic suffusing her, Layla slowly crawled towards the source of her pain. Grabbing hold of Jogen's shirt, she laid her forehead down on his chest and started to scream.