Death, it sounds like a scary and dark thing. There was an old country song Rene had heard about it. Something along I'm not afraid of dying, but it's the thought of being dead. She had often turned the thought, being dead. She wouldn't call herself suicidal, call her a coward or lacking conviction, but the thought of being dead scared her because of it's unknown and finality. She'd much rather just not exist. Unfortunately, in this world, that basically equaled dying and so she lived on. Not dead, but it had been a long time since she felt truly alive. She simply drifted from place to place, surviving the game. For now though, she supposed it was enough she felt obligated to keep playing, one day perhaps she would enjoy doing so again.

"You sure you're okay?" She questioned Declan, looking at his legs with scrutiny as he stretched.

He nodded. "Yes I'm good. Seriously no frost bite, no harm done."

"Because he isn't human." Lilith hissed under her breath.

Danny made faces at Lilith to which she returned. The two had formed an odd bond in their short period of time. He seemed to be the only one Lilith had any sort of semblance of respect or at the very least not urge to kill. Rene glanced over at Michael who once more gave her an apologetic look. He had apologized profusely this morning, joining her for a run around town before buying her coffee. The comfort of running with him again had lessened her anger from boiling to a shimmer. It was odd the nostalgia it brought back despite the terrible place the memory had been formed in.

Once more Rene shuffled through the darkness of her mind, looking for Kai and Karo. Once more, they seemed to be just outta of reach. It was frustrating and saddening. It was also even more disappointing to herself on a personal level. When had she become so reliant on them? Maybe she did too much...maybe this was a good thing. Still the emptiness in her mind without them was large and terrifying threatening to drown her. Perhaps she couldn't save herself.

"Rene?" Cassie's face flooded her vision where she was staring into space. "Still no response?"

Rene shook her head, turning away flustered for zoning out again. Cassie reassured her they would come back and tried to cheer her up, but it just pulled at her more. If even she could notice how down Rene was because of this, it really pointed toward her being too dependent. She needed to be tough, stand on her own two feet.

"Ouch" Rene recoiled from a flick to her forehead that Cassie gave her.

"Did you hear me? It's okay to miss them you know. Remember relying on others isn't a bad thing, it's when you can't live without them that you should be worried because that's called obsession." Cassie smiled.

Danny nodded along, talking through mouthfuls of the breakfast he was scarfing down. "Yeah and Cass would know. She used to be a stalker."

"I wasn't a stalker." She scoffed. "Okay, maybe I was a little emotionally dependent and locked myself in his room until the cops came, but what can I say. Mania and breaking up do not mix very well."

"Wow, you must've really loved that guy. Gross." Lilith said.

Cassie shook her head, walking away from Rene to finish packing. They were going to be leaving today by checkout time in a few hours. They were running low on money. Plus with Declan now back with them, they needed to get moving before they were found again.

"It was never love. I thought it was at the time, but that's not love. Like I said, it was obsession."

Lilith smiled, pausing her game playing to cast her glowing red eyes up. "Ah yes obsession now that I like. All consuming, all encompassing, a need deep to your bones that you would do anything to keep. It's certainly useful that emotion."

"Lilith, what did we talk about manipulating people's unhealthy emotions?" Michael said.

"To not say it out loud because it freaks people out."

Michael clicked affirmatively at her as he slung a duffel bag and backpack over his shoulders. They had managed to procure a few things while her to restock. It had been humiliating but once Declan was back they called Lora for funds, which she sent, happy to help. Woman was a goddess in disguise. Rene missed her.

Declan checked them out a bit later, the rest of them sitting on the curb like a bunch of vagabonds.  She wasn't sure if any of them knew what to do next.

Upon Declan's return, Lilith stood up and pointed at him. One had on her hip and one out stretched, she really did demand attention in her Lolita outfit like an anime character.

"You! You and I are going back to this so called Asylum hell-hole and doing some digging. I don't want you out of my sight and also humans suck at finding things other humans bury."

"She's saying we're too stupid to find the stuff the good doctor hid and she doesn't trust Declan." Michael sighed, standing up. "You know the rest of us really can't go back there, not easily at least."

"Duh, that's why I said him." Lilith rolled her eyes, obviously exasperated at the obviousness. "You should be kissing my boots I'm even offering to help you."

Sarcasm tripped from Rene as she cooed. "Oh great Lilith shall we sacrifice a virgin maiden in your honor?"

Lilith hissed. "I can kill my own virgins little girl, just remember that. Your dragons aren't here to protect you right now."

Michael stepped between the two before things could be worse, both had glaring burning holes into his skull. It was like no-man's land in a war zone, just waiting for the gunning down to begin.

"Thanks Lilith, that would be helpful."

The rest of the day was spent in a park figuring out their plan of action. It involved a lot of arguing, screaming, and even the occasional burst of power that drew looks their way from passers. Luckily, they had chosen a place excluded from the main part of the park near the woods. A little picnic shelter that had a roof and like waist level walls, it helped to hide anything. Most people probably thought they were kids playing with fireworks, guns, or drugs, maybe even all three. Yeah, there was a good chance they were going to end up arrested before the end of the day.

Rene slapped a table in annoyance. "We can't just let you go off with Declan. You threatened to kill him. Multiple times!"

"I said I'd go with her, if it means she'll help us, it's worth it. Besides I can handle myself." Declan said.

"Kill. As in dead. She's some kinda monster and you want to just go on a field trip with her?" Declan shrugged at her question, so she turned on Michael. "Do something."

"Look Lilith is...dangerous to say the least. But if she gives her word, she'll keep it. He's safe for now anyway."

Lilith gave her a smug grin and licked her lips, leaving a red trail from her candy and soda.

Rene collapsed back on to the bench, exhausted. She knew this was their only option. Like Michael had stated, the rest of them were on wanted lists. Even if Lora was running the new facility on the Asylum's ground, it had become more regulated and many police had swept the place at the request of the few enraged parents who cared. In a way it was almost a blessing Kristy had gotten involved with the higher ups at the Asylum and died because of it, nothing like Daddy's little white girl dying in a horrific manner to get the cops involved.

"Perhaps one of us could go, besides Declan I mean." Danny strummed his hand, playing a tune only he could hear. "I mean all of us would be difficult and put to much pressure on Lora. She'd obviously want to help, but putting all that on her is a lot. But if just one of us goes, as let's say backup, then maybe they could be disguised and blend in enough."

Lilith wrapped her small hand around Danny's arm. "Fine, but I want him then. He's the least annoying and won't be a hindrance."

"Flattered Lilith, but don't swing that way." Danny grinned at her, careful to peel her sharp talon-like nails off him.

Michael shifted back and forth, he eyes flickering to Rene and away. "Maybe I should go."

"You stick out too much. Plus we both know Fiction will have an eye on you. I can hide myself from observation. You, on the other hand, are literally a blazing fire signal of come get in." Lilith replied.

She had a point. Rene chewed on her lip until she tasted blood. Then she started ripping at her cuticles to the point of bleeding, trying to use the pain to give her some answer. Michael or her would obviously be the best bet. He at least stood some chance, especially having a prior acquaintanceship with her. Rene could potentially at least slow her down, but she was too obvious as well with all her tattoos. There's a reason it's one of the first things asked of a witness.

They were playing with a nuke in a red and black Lolita package. All they could hope for was she wasn't pointed at them when it finally went off. 

Danny stared at her for a while, before seeming to resolve something in himself. "On second thought I will go. After all, someone has to protect these two and why not my wonderful self? If anything I can dazzle everyone with my piano skills or scare them away by talking to people who don't exist. I'll just start screaming about the voices or something."

"I don't know about this Danny." Cassie's eyes watered up. "Splitting up only works in cartoons, and even then it's more comedic than practical."

Danny stopped playing his invisible keys, with shaking fingers, he gave her a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, I got this."

"Good, glad that's settled. So while we are doing the real work, what will you people be doing? Better not slack." Lilith said with a cracking and fizz of another Code Red opening.

"Well," Michael drawled, scratching at his head. "I was hoping you'd help point us in the right direction on that."

Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Must I do everything?"

Her nails clicked on her phone before the phone in Declan's pocket pinged. She nodded at him and he opened it to see a small map that he showed them on the screen.

"You like to play games don't you little dragon girl? How about a scavenger hunt?"

Rene took the phone, squinting at the small screen. "What are we hunting?"

"What else? Your former hunters." She stood up, a shadow of red seeming to encompass them and hang ominously. "Let's get one thing clear, while I'm on your team you are never the prey. We hunt and send them scurrying to their holes like the pathetic mice they are."