The trio slowly close in on me.

"Come on!" I scream gripping my cane to use like a weapon, "kill me! I'm not afraid! I'll purify you or die trying!'

The three ready their fists and prepare to attack as I see those within the diner watch. I make sure Lily isn't watching, since she would put the pieces together with the cane and all. I see her, without looking outside, take Mary away from the windows. Excellent. That'll allow me to focus on the fight.

The first one throws a surprisingly mean looking right hook. Never let it be said looks can't be deceiving. I duck under her attack, causing a burning sensation to shoot through my torso and attempt to counter, tripping her with my cane. I hear her hip bones shatter on contact with the ground, but I can feel my wound burning, searing with agony. One more maneuver like that and it'll reopen.

"It's over for you!" The one I picked a fight with exclaims, "my son was born a boy! He'll die one!"

"You impure fuck," Purity and I speak in synch, "You have abused your daughter. You must be purified! Come on! I'm not afraid of you! Hit me!"

The duo lunge at me. I grip my cane, ready for them to dish out the killing blow as I dig my feet in to keep my balance. When suddenly, from behind the diner I see Bleach rush in, tossing me a digital camera that I catch and film him as he rushes the duo. The first one throws a punch with her brass knuckles, which Bleach catches with ease and counters, striking her with a punch to the ribs.

The third turns to attack my ally, who counters with a judo kick to the jaw, striking before she can even reach him. He fights with such skill and power.

"Power we need," Purity reminds.

"How did you do that?" I ask.

Bleach approaches me silently, glaring, and swipes the camera from me. He checks the footage, nods seemingly in approval, stops filming and looks at me. He grabs me by the collar and lifts me up yelling, "Dude where the fuck have you been?"

"Put me down!" I exclaim, struggling to escape his grip.

"I thought you died!" Bleach exclaims, "I was worried sick!"

Those inside the diner turn away, seeing this could get ugly.

"That's no reason to lash out!" I exclaim, "Dude chill!"

"Sorry," Bleach apologizes, putting me down, "so what happened?"

"They took her away," I reply, "they took my best friend."

"And she was at the winery?" Bleach asks.

I nod.

"Yikes," Bleach replies as we go off into the forest to avoid attention, him helping me traverse the brush with my injury, supporting my weight on his shoulder. "So how did she react?"

"She knows who I am," I reply, shedding my mask, "But she's not turning me in."

"Does she know about me or Sterile?" Bleach asks, "I saw the war speech. Who's Sterile?"

"A doctor who caught me," I reply, "He's a freind. If you get hurt give him a ring."

"Speaking of ringing," George reveals his face, "You have Poke right? The texting app?"

I nod.

"What's your username?' George asks.

"We can't discuss our duties online," I reply, "Digital paper trail."

"I'm George asking for Richard's," George explains, "I'm asking as a friend, not an accomplice."

"Oh," I reply, "I'll put it in. Give me your phone."

George hands me his phone and I type my contact info in.

"So did you get hurt?" George asks.

I nod, "Stabbed myself having a mental breakdown. Then attacked the winery two days later. Wounds reopened. I've been walking with a cane since I could walk at all, but another week or so and I'll be back to normal. Hey, you have a camera. What's up with-"

"I've been using it to film and send confessions in bulk on flashdrives," George replies, "Always clear it after, don't worry."

"Great," I smile, "We're doing good work here dude. It's getting better."

"Sure is dude," George smiles as birds chirp in the Summer air and bugs buzz past our ears.

"Hey," I ask, "You seem to know how to fight. Could you maybe..."

"Oh," George replies, "Yeah I'm a black belt in karate. I can teach you so you don't get beat up, but, a mental breakdown? Are you OK?"

"I just have to become stronger," I reply, "Let's head back. Lily is probably wondering where I am and we can't get caught."

"The girl investigating us?" George asks, "You friends with her?"

"I'm staying with her while my parents are in France," I reply, "She's great."

"What if she suspects us?" George asks.

"Avoiding her would draw suspicion," I reply, "Talking openly with her will make her assume we'd tell her."

"You're one manipulative dude aren't you?" George asks.

"It's better this way," I reply, "I mean, I can't lose anyone else. I lost my best friend. I lost my sister. We can't take any chances and I can't lose her too."

"I understand," George replies, "Let's roll."

We return to the diner and I enter on my cane, finally able to use it again. I mean, I can walk without it obviously, but damn does it hurt.

"Where have you been?" Lily demands, "I was about to go out there to look for you."

George looks at me, expecting me to come up with a lie.

"You couldn't get up," Purity whispers.

"I couldn't get up," I reply, "With my wound any time I tried to stand from how I was sitting I could feel it was gonna reopen. However, my bro George here passed by and helped me out. Hey, George, would you care to join us? You cool with that Lily?"

"Sure," Lily shrugs, "But I thought this was our thing."

"Hey," I remind, "We're equals. You can bring whoever you want. Besides, I would still be stuck out there if not for this dude. Let's eat."

"I'll go ahead and order on my own," George takes out his wallet.

"Nah I got it," Lily smiles, "Any friend of Richard's a friend of mine."

We sit on stools in this order. George, me, Lily and Mary.

"Auntie Lily," Mary asks, "why did you turn down uncle Purity?"

"Did you just call me auntie?" Lily asks. Lily smiles and hugs Mary, joyfully exclaiming, "oh my God you just melt my heart! I turned him down for love Mary."

"But uncle Purity is cool!" Mary exclaims, "Who's better than him?"

Lily chuckles, "He'll know who he is soon enough. I'll tell him. Soon."

Lily turns to me, "Hey Richard, your birthday is the week after next, right?"

"Yeah and I should be able to walk normally again," I reply.

"You wanna hang out on that day?" George asks.

"Sure," I reply, "You, me, Whitney, Lily, and Morga-"

"Did you forget?" Purity asks.

"Oh," I correct myself feeling a deep despair within. My failure a parasite that devours my soul, "Right."

"It's OK," Lily hugs me, the despair fades and is drowned out by the pleasant feeling and a friendly hand on my shoulder from George, reassuring me.

"Yeah," I reply, "It's OK. As you said Lily, we'll force the world to change. Come on, let's eat."

We all dig into our food, each bite pure bliss with Lily and my friend George. I feel truly happy as I eat, and ignore Purity as he protests to my diet. Yeah I'll gain weight but for now, I'm with my freinds, and I'm truly happy...