Chapter 2 - Worry

Raiden regained focus when he heard the sound of rustling outside. When he got up out of his chair to search for the source of the sounds, he was careful to prepare his [Bolt]. It was the only offensive ability he had ever learned, taught by none other than his father.

He knew to be cautious when approaching unknown noise, beings as insignificant as insects had evolved after the collapse. Thus making even rats dangerous under the right conditions. Both humans and beasts further evolved by absorbing the dark matter contained in other living beings. The more dark matter you had absorbed, the more powerful one could become.

This was one of the primary reasons for mass murder by criminal syndicates and the dramatic rise in criminal activity since the collapse.

When Raiden continued to advance after leaving his apartment, he heard the familiar sobbing of his sister when he found her lying beside the garbage bins with a bloodied knee. She had jumped through the window.

"You never learn, do you?" Raiden asked his younger sister, disappointment obvious in his tone.

"But--" she started "You both work so hard to afford the matter courses, it's only right that I want to attend!" she finished, holding her knee with tears streaming down her face.

"I know how you feel, but it's dangerous out right now, use your hea--" Raiden was cut off by a deafening shockwave.

*zzzzzzzzzz-PANG*

The static in the air was palpable. Raiden's lightning enhanced sensory abilities nearly caused a sensory overload. And then he saw it, within the split second that he'd heard the sound, a colossal lightning bolt reaching far into the sky had struck near the center of Dalia. The bolt burnt into his vision before dissipating.

"Wha- what was that?!" Ashlee muttered before covering her mouth with her hands.

Smoke erupted from towards the center of the city, visible from kilometers away.

Ashlee's light brown hair fell over her shoulder and down to her back as she stood up, her red school uniform and black skirt she always wore to matter classes tattered from her fall.

Raiden, only just recovering from the immense electrical pressure he felt in the air started immediately in an effort to assure the safety of his sister.

"Ash!" He shouted, "Inside, now!" He added calmly. Their father had prepared them for this kind of situation, he had made sure they would be safe in emergencies. Ashlee followed Raiden into their apartment before he locked the door. Raiden then locked the windows and closed the blinds.

"B-Brother, what's h-happening?" Ash's face was pale, visibly terrified.

"If I had to guess, it's probably those Deviants that were on the news this morning." He replied, the time now was 4:43 PM. Stay calm. He took a deep breath and continued.

"You are not to go outside in any circumstances, matter school can wait."

His sister gave him a queried look before asking him, "How can you be so calm right now?" Fresh tears fell on her cheeks, "Didn't you see that lightning earlier? Something's wrong!" She exclaimed, wishful doubt in her words.

"I'm responsible for you right now, I don't have time to be scared" he lied. I'm not nearly as calm as you think.

Suddenly, Raiden felt his hair stand and the static build in the surrounding area. His gray hoodie sticking to his skin like adhesive, and his silver hair standing up. Again.

*Wrzzzzzzzzzzzz--*

*K-TAANNNNNG*

Thunder roared throughout Dalia. And then silence, the wind dared not whisper, before ringing ensued. Birds, both evolved and enhanced, fell from the sky, their bodies lifeless. Killed by the volume and shockwaves alone. Windows had shattered and glass spread upon the floor, blood leaked from Raiden's right ear, staining his white hair before he looked at Ashlee. Shit! She lay on the floor, dazed and barely conscious, he ran to pick her up.

"ASH!" He couldn't hear himself speak, ringing the only sound imaginable now. "ASH, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"

Lifting her off the ground, his knees buckled, the impact of the shockwave and the overwhelming electrical dark matter in the environment was crippling for a lightning affinity matter wielder not accustomed to massive amounts of dark matter. Raiden noticed his sister's gaze fall upon him, her eyes feeble and weak; but alive.

He made his way to the bathroom, careful not to step on the shattered glass.

Locking themselves in, Ashlee held close to her older brother, her only bastion in a currently cruel and unforgiving world. Raiden knew now, something big was going down. Something that would have dire impacts on his future.

Raiden woke to Ashlee's panting.

"Are you awake?" He asked, desperate for a response. None was delivered, Raiden checked her pulse, she seemed stable, but there was no way he could be certain. Thunder resounded twice more while they tried to sleep. The noise interrupting Raiden both times, but never waking Ashlee. Both times were much farther away, and lead to Raiden's discovery that today's target was not Western Dalia, but Southern Dalia.

Raiden bided his time now, fully awake and conscious. He waited for his sister to wake up, but she wouldn't, not after one hour, or two, or three. He no longer knew how long they had locked themselves in their bathroom, but he was certain that the thunder hadn't returned for a while now. That of course didn't signal safety, not to Raiden, he knew better. He had been prepared by his father to take care of those close to him in emergencies. Benefits of having a parent in the Pathfinders, he assumed.

He continued to wait, his sister's breathing had calmed by now, and she seemed to have stabilized. Raiden left the bathroom once, to grab water and some bread. Unfortunately, he ended up stepping on some of the shattered glass that had fallen from the window near the kitchen, but he made his way back in relative safety.

While Raiden had mostly calmed down by now, what he didn't know was the extent of the calamity that had befallen Dalia, courtesy of the Deviants. The most well-known criminal syndicate, those who revered chaos and crippling the Frontlines.

While he was deep in thought, carefully contemplating his next actions, Raiden heard knocking.

*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*

"Is anyone home?" Someone shouted, heard more from the shattered windows than through the door that separated the unknown woman and their apartment.

Raiden cautiously approached the door after setting down his younger sister in the bath, closing the curtains to hide her in case of danger. He was apprehensive at first, his shoulders however relaxed immediately upon looking through the peak-hole. Noticing the familiar Frontline Officer emblem, he quickly opened the door. A tall woman, with flowing red hair tied that into a ponytail, was adorned by several badges. What looked to be medals of honor covered the left side of her coat. Contrasting her red hair, a fair complexion, and a face without blemishes, similar to Raiden's own, made for a stunning woman.

She introduced herself, a worn look showing itself on her face.

"Good morning, Mr. Sullivan" she began, "I am Officer Sarah Yellowblade, I've come bearing news, and also to confirm you and your sisters' safety." She finished, looking almost sad before Raiden quickly responded.

"My sister!" Raiden was nervous, while he was certain that this woman was an officer, he hesitated. Can I truly trust her with my sister's life with all that's going on? He decided the risk was needed. "My sister has been unconscious for several hours now. I'm worried she might be injured." He said, exhaustion evident in his voice.

Noticing the dried blood on Raiden's right ear, the woman was quick to respond. Raiden led her to his sister, where she examined Ashlee and came to the conclusion that it was a mild concussion.

"She has a concussion, coupled with the high dark matter density in the atmosphere right now, she likely won't wake until it clears up in a few hours." Turning to look at Raiden, "The only reason you're still awake is likely due to your high affinity for lightning matter" She looked at him with a pained expression, "She'll recover with rest, just make sure to lay her down properly." She said, relief washing over Raiden.

"Now I need you to sit down, there's something you need to know," she said, a grim expression across her face. "What's up," Raiden said. Still relieved that his sister would make a full recovery.

"Your father..." She looked at him, "was killed in the attack by the Deviants."