The new working schedule was hellish for Jared, the man not able to wake up at regular times without feeling half-dead. He understood the others felt the same way, of course, but the fact that it hit him so hard was something he couldn’t get through.

More than three weeks of it had gone by until they finally found somebody unwise enough to join up. Jared had only seen them once during their initial showing of the place. They’d just gotten out of college, had a power that allowed them to make people feel joy and sleepy, and were very desperate for a workplace that wanted to use said ability. It was nearly useless in all other settings, making them the perfect fit to join up with them.

That allowed an entire five people to work, letting them make some edits to the schedule. Once again, Jared worked with Clara. The night shift was still only one person but they’d been able to make two-person teams during the mornings and afternoons. It was pure luck that the two had been able to take the afternoon one, working from one to eight before the night shift would take over. In full honesty, it was better than what they’d been forced through. Having to run around constantly while also making the food had been more than just a challenge and Jared had gained more than a little appreciation for how Clara had been able to control the dosing for each dish. Learning the ins and outs of those kinds of pills had been quite the challenge but Jared was more than happy he’d finally been able to get his head into that game.

“I don’t understand how they get away with it,” Clara repeated as the two left for the bus stop. Neither of them had been able to afford a car in recent years and it wasn’t like they were going to be able to pay for the gas either. Last month’s check was still pending as well, making Jared happy that he had some savings to rely on. “They pay us scraps, they give the elderly scraps, they haven’t looked at any parts of the building that I reported as not up to code, and they somehow expect that we aren’t going to complain about us not being paid? John sent me an actual legal warning when I said I was going to the news about this.”

“Can they actually sue you for saying this to others?” Jared inquired, not knowing much about that part. Education was not something he’d focused too much on in his younger years. It didn’t hurt him too often but there were points when people gave him a second glance because of it.

“They might be able to bring up some random documents and spin it as a defamation case, yeah,” Clara said, looking tired all of a sudden. “It’s not like I’d be able to challenge that in court. Lawyers are too expensive and that company has more money lying around than it should have right now.”

Lawyers. In a world where there were people who could see the absolute truth, it was surprising they were never used at any official levels. Jared numbly remembered something about security concerns but that hardly mattered. So much money could be saved by trusting a few people to not lie about the results. It would certainly bring up the number of times where justice hit right.

A low growl could be heard in the air as the two stood waiting for the bus. Thinking it over for a moment, Jared could remember Clara sneaking in a bit of that porridge she made. With how much the woman hated the taste, the man had a few ideas about what was going on.

“Do you want to do something tonight?” Jared offered casually, Clara looking at him in mild surprise. “I’ve been in this city for more than a few months now but I’ve never actually seen what’s around these parts.”

“Are you serious?” Clara said as the Healer responded with a half-shrug. “I mean… yeah, I would love to. What were you thinking?”

“A cheap restaurant maybe?” Jared offered, remembering a few fast food chains that had somehow decided that setting up shop in the small city was a good idea. As if any of the citizens had the stomach for such things. “I know there are a burger joint three stops from here. Maybe that?”

“I would say I was watching my calories but I don’t think I have that luxury anymore,” Clara said with a joking attitude as the bus finally decided to arrive. It was empty of both a bus driver and passengers, that part of the transport system luckily automatized. “Sure. Let’s see the wonders of this city together. I will warn you, though. This place is as boring as it gets.”

“I don’t doubt there are worse places to stay in,” Jared assured the woman, getting a laugh in response. Shooting himself a quick bit of healing, the young man felt his stiffened back finally relax. It had been too long since he needed to do something like this. He wasn’t even sure he could do it. Yet… looking at Clara, that smile on her face and the knowledge of what was behind it made Jared think it was worth it.

They rode for a while, the bus taking its sweet time getting to the actual stop. The weather was fairly pleasant outside, the sun still a few hours away from turning the skies into the night. With only a few clouds in sight and a generally warm bit of air, it was the perfect conditions for a nice evening outside. Not that the two spent it there, getting into a cheap food chain the moment they stepped out of the bus, the ads nearly guiding them there without a thought needed.

Jared couldn’t say he enjoyed the amount of grease but Clara seemed to be halfway to heaven already, the woman nearly swallowing the meat and bread in just a few hits. At the man’s raised brow, the woman raised one of her own.

“What? My power uses calories and I need a bit more than the usual person that runs around here,” Clara explained, wiping away the bit of oil on her chin with a tissue. Jared found it weirdly charming. “It isn’t like you have to worry about that.”

The healer begged to differ but kept his mouth shut, just shaking his head as he continued trying to enjoy what would be his only real meal for that day. It had enough to sustain him and it wasn’t like he required much else but that. Maybe a bit more salt would make it go down easier…

“Maybe we should have done this more often,” Jared finally said, looking out at the street. In the afternoon lights, the sky nearly pink as the sun settled, no other human was around to look at them. There were a few cameras strewn about but it wasn’t too serious. The city was empty, only the firms staying open for a last-ditch attempt to catch any potential tourists. Looking at the empty road, however, Jared doubted that would happen any time soon. “It’s nice being out here. Quiet, but nice nonetheless.”

“I can’t say I have too many complaints either,” Clara said with a grin. The two went to the small railing at the bus stop yet again. Jared would need to take it if he needed to get home later. There was little chance of anything else happening. “And who says we can't do this more often? Maybe I’ll invite you next week, granted John gives us the money. Thanks for paying for my stuff, by the way.”

“... Yeah, of course, we can,” Jared said with a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes no matter how much he tried. “And you never know with that John. Maybe a change of heart will finally set him right.”

“I don't think you can do anything to make that greedy bastard understand,” Clara said with a small laugh. “He’s one of those people.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Jared said, ignoring the last part. “With enough conviction behind your actions, you can make anybody regret anything. It just takes enough work before the results finally reveal themselves.”

Clara gave Jared a weird glance before just shaking her head, seemingly accepting the man’s peculiarities. Jared was happy about that. Clara was very likely one of the longest friends he’d ever have. He knew that, no matter what, he would cherish the friendship they’d had.

“The sky is beautiful, you know,” Clara said, tilting her head up. Jared did the same, seeing grey clouds and not much else. “It’s not every day I get to be out here seeing it in person.”

“It does have its charms,” Jared somewhat agreed. Looking at it for a moment more, he tried to understand just what the woman was seeing. Grey spots all around, some parts being slightly darker as well. Wasn’t this what people would call bad weather? The colour was too bland for him to care.

“Do you want to grab a drink before the day is over?” Jared asked in the continued quiet. “There’s a small place I visited once when I first got here. I don’t know if it's closed yet but I would love to see it again.”

“I didn’t think you looked around at all,” Clara commented before her smile got warmer. “And, is that even a question? I don’t get to drink with this damned schedule.”

“That’s the spirit!” Jared said, glancing around. “We might be able to cut through over there. Should help cut the walking distance down.”

“I always thought you were a bit iffy about walking through trash,” Clara said, once again laughing. God, Jared couldn’t get enough of it, nearly changing his plans as the two stepped into the darker alley.

“There’s a lot of things you never learned about me,” Jared replied. His mind settled back into place as he took a deep breath. “And… I am sorry for this, Clara.”

“Sorry for-”

The woman wasn’t able to finish her sentence, the knife cutting up her vocal cords and letting the pulsing vein begin to spew out blood. Clara grabbed at Jared’s arm but the man just gently allowed her to sit in the alley. She couldn’t scream and she couldn’t run. She was getting weaker in just a few passing seconds.

“For this,” Jared answered, not sure if she could even hear him anymore. “I needed to do this, Clara. Your power is just too important for me to let you keep it. I hoped that you would have understood but I think that’s too late now. Please don’t cry.”

One of the negatives of powers was how slowly they were forced to go through their deaths. Jared was sure that Clara could feel every drop of her lifeblood slowly oozing out while being unable to do anything but feel it happen. The young man was still relatively sure he could heal her, the power he currently wielded bringing that form of ability. Not that he would have it for too long anymore. They normally faded when he absorbed the next one.

A rush of power was felt as Clara’s skill became his own, the understanding of how to use it appearing in a flash. A few moments of her life came with it but Jared did his best to ignore them. Looking at the grey corpse in front of him, the man gave it a final farewell as he buried it under trash bags. It would be found in just a few days but that was all the time he needed.

Letting the bus bring him home, the man slept for a few hours before getting back to his duties at the elder care home. It was hard work to do it alone but he had to. The days were getting longer and he knew a certain somebody would visit soon.