I whip through the hospital like a brooding summer storm. Patients and health workers brush to wayside of the sterile halls. I tear through the lobby within moments and finally free my fury outdoors. Daniel better brace himself for the damage I will do to him.

A sunny sky greets my anger. I look around dumbly because I'm not really sure where to go. The training center? The community building? The apartments? I shield my eyes from the sun with my right hand.

"Ashley!" someone calls from behind me. I turn around to see Lana walking in my direction. She rushes over to me, the wind tousling her hair. "You're looking for Danny, aren't you."

She saw right through my thin lie. Whether I want it or not, I need her. "Maybe."

"He's in the building over there." I look across the grounds as Lana confirms it's the headquarters building. Why did I not realize that before? The building's guards teem around its border.

"Thank you," I say. We both nod.

Lana's expression shifts, then unpockets her phone. With raises eyebrows she says, "I can't believe he did this. I'm dumping him right now."

If I was drinking something, I would have spit it out. "What?"

Lana's thumbs dart around her phone before she puts it away and shrugs. "I'm not going to be associated with some unpredictable guy like Danny. What he did is disgusting."

I'm not really sure what to say. I just nod. "Thanks for helping me with the wounds and all that. You're really good at your job. I could never be a nurse."

She laughs. "I could never be a Clarifier."

With that, we part and go our separate ways; Lana back to her nursing job and me to the heavily-guarded building. With renewed determination, I follow the paved path to the building. Suprisingly, the guards don't stop me from entering.

Passing through various training room, I recieve wide-eyed stares through glass doors and windows from everybody. Great. The last thing I need is people making me into some kind of an animal. My hands find my neck. The bandages layer my skin. Lovely.

As soon as I step past the entrance, I have just enough time to observe the interior before a guard says, "General Fadhill was expecting you." Concrete walls and a harsh environment engulf me as the guard leads me through a lengthy hallway and down a flight of stairs.

Once we reach the bottom of the staircase, the guard stops and instructs me to walk to the end of the hall. So I stride down the dingy hall and let the outrage fill me full. I can't let Daniel weasel his way out of a punishment, no matter what. My mind flashes back to the video Daniel took. Why did he do that? It's so weird of a thing to do. I'll do anything to get it deleted.

A little red light catches my attention. I tilt my eyes towards the ceiling to spot small cameras positioned every few yards. I nearly whistle out loud in amazement. Their security team must be way better than the States's, considering Renegades use camera technology in a basement.

After more pointless bantering with myself, I reach the door at the end of the hall. A different guard turns the doorknob and pushes it open. I immediately spot that back of Daniel's figure yelling at General Fadhill, a man with a strong build and buzz-cut blonde hair.

"--so no, I won't." Daniel yells. The general spots me behind Daniel, and he pauses him before he can yell anymore.

"Miss Cummins." The general welcomes me gruffly into his office. Daniel spins around to face me, an angry scowl on his face. He sweeps his eyes over me and gives me a disgusted look. I glare back at him and take a seat in one of the chair facing the general's desk.

Crossing my arms, I look up to Daniel from where I sit. "Maybe you should take a few steps back. I'd rather not be within your punching range."

Daniel's nostrils flare as I smile at my own joke. The fury must skyrocket his blood pressure, but he keeps his mouth shut tight and his lips pressed into a fine line. He takes a seat next to me and also crosses his arms. I uncross mine.

"Okay," General Fadhill says. "So we've all got some questions we want answered, and they all lead back to you, Dan. Care to explain anything?"

Daniel clears his throat. "Read the Code, Dad."

The general gives him a look and reaches for a thin manual on his desk. Flipping to a dog-eared page, he reads an excerpt of the Code of Conduct for the Renegades.

"Clarifiers are to be moral fighters for the Renegades. Their goal is to win over the support of the States's people in whatever non-deadly way the general orders. They are authorized to use minimal force only as a last resort, but in a way that will benefit the ultimate goal: peace in the States. The interpretation of this rule is up to the discretion to the general in charge. However, no permanant or intended injury of any kind should be inflicted on an Clarifier or any other person."

"Wait," I say before anyone can continue. Daniel squirms a little in his seat. "Why have I never heard of this Code of Conduct?"

The general looks grimly at Daniel. "Do you ever do anything right?"

I let out a laugh-like breath of air, and Daniel throws a glare at me.

"Yeah, I do," he retorts.

Daniel's father closes his manual and slides it across his desk. "Cummins, you can read this one. Get it back to me when you're done."

I take the book and set it on my lap. A gold emblem shines on the navy cover. Must be the Renegades' flag. "Yes, sir."

Daniel scoffs. "What the hell, Ashley? You've never given me that much respect before."

"You never earned," I retort.

"Enough," General Fadhill intervenes. "Danny, you certainly haven't been following the rules. You've used violence intentionally, and you've taken the morality out of clarifying."

Daniel shakes his head and bites on his lip. "No, I haven't. Check page 19."

I glance at him, and flip to page 19. I scan the page for something relevant, but Daniel seizes the book, taking it right from between my fingers. "Rude," I say under my breath.

Daniel reads an excerpt without a side glance at me. "The role of Clarifier is to be the undercover agents of the Renegades while making alliances with the people of the States. The goal of the Clarifier is to gives citizens the truth and honesty they deserve. When rescuing or spreading the real intent of Renegades, Clarifier may use brunt force or small violences against unruly States affiliates when necessary."

"Exactly my point," Daniel's father says. "When necessary. I've let you off the hook during your clarifying of Ashley in Baltimore, but you've certainly crossed the line now. C'mon, Dan, you used blanks on her. You handcuffed her so she had no defense."

Daniel looks at me. "How is that any different from what she did to me in Baltimore?"

I grit my teeth, but my iconic sarcasm bursts out. I sit up in my chair and face Daniel. "I didn't have a choice back then, but you did. So congrats. You did a lovely job torturing me."

The general holds up a hand to each of us, signaling for silence. I settle back into my chair. I doubt Daniel's going to get any punishment because he's God to everyone around here. Except maybe to his father.

"This behavior is unacceptable, Danny. Unacceptable. I would give you a new partner, but that's probably what you want." He pauses. "Instead, you will be under close surveillance, and Cummins is going to remain as your partner."

Daniel doesn't seem too angry about the order, but I am. Just as I open my mouth to say something, General Fadhill continues, "I don't know what has gotten into you, Danny, but I demand you tell me right now."

Daniel rolls his eyes, but he's trapped now: whatever the general orders, you do. "During the Clarifier mission, I lost control. In that agency interrogation room, Ashley and her idiot co-worker electrocuted me at least a dozen times, and I wanted her to feel the pain, too."

I roll my eyes. He has a point, but that's not the way to look at it. "Well, at least I'm not dead."

Daniel directs his explanation to me, "and when I was training you, I was being really hard on you because of how many other innocent people you've tortured. People who probably died right in front of you, and you probably didn't even blink at them."

I look at him in disbelief. "What the heck, Daniel! I had to make a living, too! It's not like I enjoy hurting people. I hated that job, and I needed the money." I turn back to the general. "With all due respect, General, I know I'm not in a position of power, but I think that Daniel's punishment isn't a punishment."

"What would be your alternative?" the general asks me. He breezes over the obvious: that Daniel's kind of right. I'm not innocent; I tortured citizens and Renegades. I try to push it out of my mind, too. I didn't kill anyone. It never got that far. Ever.

"I want Daniel's camera," I blurt. Wow, way to go, Ashley. You sound just as psycho as Daniel himself.

The general gives me a puzzled look, but he orders Daniel to hand over his camera. Instead, I pry the palm-sized device out of his fingers. I toss Daniel a dirty glare, and he returns the favor.

I switch on the camera and locate the video. I'm quick to delete it. There's no way I want anyone else seeing me like that. "Can I have this?" I ask the general. He obliges, and without any further questions, General Fadhill dismisses us from his office. I tuck the device in my pocket.

As soon as we exit the office, I expect Daniel to start yelling his head off. He doesn't do that, though, so we walk silently back to ground level, squeaks from our shoes echoing through the air. Once we're outside on main lawn and safely away from prying eyes (or ears), Daniel leaps ahead of me and explodes into a backwards walk, eyes deadlocked with mine.

"What the heck, Cummins, was that all about?"

I look at him in disgust. "Really, Fadhill, you're trying to pin this one on me? I technically just saved your ass back there. I deleted the video you took of me."

"Yeah, I needed that," Daniel says, exasperated. "That could have been really useful."

"For what?" I yell, the hot sun and heavy humidity fueling my temper. "I just covered for you, being the good partner I am. Does that prove my loyalty yet?"

Daniel scoffs. "Listen, I'm sorry for beating on you, but I don't regret doing it."

"So you're not sorry?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Well, you're not." I snicker. "At least I've never been dumped over the phone."

Daniel laughs. (Why is he laughing? I swear, he laughs every time he shouldn't). "Nice try. I never really cared about her. She was my rebound."

My jaw drops. Why is Daniel so... annoyingly sleazy? "What do you mean, she was a rebound?" I ask.

"Did I stutter?"

I cough. "Okay, gosh."

"Why, does it make you jealous?" Daniel taunts. Leave it to him to turn an argument into a battle for his affection.

"No, you idiot. Quit trying to avoid the real issue here. Do you want to talk for real or not?" I say.

Daniel spins back around and matches my pace. "I'm listening," he says.

I clear my throat. "I only electrocuted you back in Baltimore because of the money. My family really needed that money to live, okay? We were starving, and I was old enough to work. I just don't understand why you always punish me for a sacrifice I had to make."

Daniel's eyes flicker away from mine. He steers us to the edge of the cliffs and takes a seat on the massive rocks. Looking into the direction of the shoreline, he spits out, "You remind me of Taylor."

What? I think. Daniel shoves his hands in his pockets. "Taylor was amazing. She was my partner in the field, and she had this way about her that... I don't know, but she betrayed us all. She told the States about the Renegade HQ in Pennsylvania, and that's why we move to Hawaii. That's why Pennsylvania was bombed."

Taylor killed my dad? She killed hundreds of Renegades, and then blamed the Renegades for it? The rubble, the screams, the blood. The lifelessness of my home.

My lungs grapple for air. The weight of the world collapses my breath, bowing my backside. I hide my face in my hands. The darkness yellows from the sunlight. I can't.

Daniel sniffles, and with a low voice, he spits, "My sister and my mom died. Because of her."

I drag my face into the light again. Daniel glares at the ocean. No tears but a locked jaw. Maybe I'm not the only one who shoves their pain into the darkest corners of the mind and heart.

Daniel. He wants revenge, payback from the person who stole his life from him. He knew I could cover the bill, a Statie he could beat to a pulp. And in a worse demented, messed-up way, it makes sense. I am everything he wants to destroy.

It's not even a though. I scoot myself closer to Daniel and edge him into a hug. His chest heaves inhales and exhales against mine. I know he's biting his lip to keep it all wrapped up and sealed away. I know because I do it, too, late at night when it overcomes me.

I loosen my hold, wipe my eyes, and head back to the Renegade campus without a word. Better to leave Daniel to his thoughts and me to mine.

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dashley (daniel and ashley) is now a thing! feel free to ship them whenever necessary.

ANYWAYS...

i really enjoyed writing this chapter. stuff just went down, like wut! a pat on the back lol.. (vote if you enjoy my end-of-the-chapter author notes, but i'm only suggesting that *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*)