"Dolly's going to learn real fast that that isn't an acceptable option." Luda narrowed his eyes at the doll- not really taking into account that it didn't do much to promote confidence in his mental state.

"Dolly says he's just as much Silver as you!" Glace giggled, dancing away gleefully.

Luda grabbed Glace by the front of his shirt.

Glace squeaked in surprise, his white eyes widening as he looked at Luda in alarm.

"Don't...ever...say that." Luda said- his voice eerily calm.

"S... S..." Glace attempted, looking completely terrified.

"Say, 'yes'." Luda sighed.

"Yes sir!" Glace cried, before he completely disappeared from site - Dolly dropping to the ground.

"Damn it!" Luda hissed as he looked around. "...He's really gone...shit..."

Rathi only continued to watch him silently. It was impossible to tell if the boy had any idea what had just happened - his face was completely unreadable.

Luda noticed for the first time, however, that rathi's eyes were dark - not silver.

"...What?" Luda demanded.

"Diamond," Rathi commented - motioning to the stripes on Luda's back, which came inward, shaped like a diamond.

Luda looked over his shoulder before facing forward to Rathi to block his stripes.

"Shut up and start moving!" Luda snapped, kneeling down to pick up Dolly and tucking her under one arm.

"It is a sign of royal," Rathi tried to explain, holding up his hands to show he meant no harm. "King and Queen?"

"Do you know where I can find them?" Luda smirked and there was nothing pleasant to be found in it.

"Yes," Rathi answered. "But wont I tell."

"Why not?" Luda took a step towards the boy.

"You will hurt her," Rathi informed, standing tall - not backing down. "Miassah. Queen. I no let."

"And I'm not stupid, you can drop the native act...you speak just fine." Luda said- taking another step. "And you're smart enough to know to keep me from her, but dumb enough to keep talking about it."

"Not as if it matters," Rathi scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "By now you've figured out that you can invade my brain well enough to get directions, even if I'm not giving them. You can even see through my eyes if you press hard enough. You know enough about Silvers to know what a Wei-Mei is and you've figured out that I'm yours- but I can't quite place why you haven't just killed me yet."

"Because I want you to realize how ridiculous this concept of Mei-Wei is before I do it." Luda snickered. "Because I want you to understand that all it is in the end is another weapon that can be used against you."

"We usually don't have to worry about people using weapons against us," Rathi mumbled, rolling his eyes. "And it isn't like its something we choose to have. Its just the way it is. Like the fact that we breathe air."

"Until you stop breathing completely." Luda replied. "And this weapon is one you have no defense against. When I'm done making your mind my bitch, I'll do away with you."

He walked off- heading down the lane towards the gate.

"No, you wont," Rathi called after him. "Because somewhere in the back of your mind, Mister Voskov... you like me."

--

"That was... surprisingly easy," Aireio admitted as they walked through the low bushes, heading back toward The Facility. She had LiSen on her back, his leg still hurting.

"Appah knew we were leaving," Quarrel informed. "But he did not stop us."

"Because he's on our side." Red smirked.

"I have to break off and head towards this city they brought up." Denum stated. "Kayen and my dad are there."

"I'm going w-" LiSen started.

"The hell you are!" His sister cut him off.

"I can do it!" Denum said quickly. "Li...you just...you just be here when I get back."

"I'm not going to stay here!" LiSen cried.

"Having him with us may slow us down," Quarrel tried to reason with Aireio, shooting Kamariya a desperate look.

"...You want me to take them?" Kamariya asked Q blankly.

He sighed. "Aireio... LiSen will be in more danger with us."

"Take him!" Aireio cried, dropping her brother into Denum's arms.

"Li..." Denum sighed before looking at Kamariya. "Take me there."

The Silver nodded and then looked to Aireio.

"I'll bring your brother back." She assured.

"I'll bring yours back," Aireio promised, frowning softly.

"...Safe." Kamariya added before turning and starting to lead Denum and LiSen off.

Aireio watched them go for a moment, before she turned to Q. "What's our plan?"

"Me?" He asked.

"Good point," She hummed. "I'll ask the leader..." Turning to Red, she repeated, "What's our plan?"

"Oh fuck me." Red turned to look at the fortified gate with the security officers patrolling the walls.

"Something is wrong," Quarrel said, moving a little bit closer and frowning. "They are looking for someone... as if someone just escaped."

"Yeah... us?" Aireio offered in a scoff.

"More recently," The Silver informed. "Within in the last... 'hour'?" He wasn't sure of the word.

"Well with all the damage we did, maybe more of the kids are gettin' out." Red offered.

"He's right," Aireio admitted, peering through some of the smaller branches around them. "This level is security... do you think that... your crazy ass brother got loose, Q?"

"You mean Luda?" Red asked. "There's not enough dead people."

"I don't know what is going on," Quarrel mumbled, frowning deeply. "But they do seem very worried."