This next scene of Trent with Valery touched me, I had to get an image of it for this chapter

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Trent awakens with a start, panting. He didn't remember choosing to close his eyes. He blinks until the world adjusts in his vision. The first thing he sees is Valery, her face twisted in a nightmare she can't wake up from. She hasn't moved an inch from the previous night.

"Val?" Trent murmurs, sitting up. Nothing.

New day, fresh hope, he reminds himself. It shouldn't be too much longer before help gets here.

Trent sits up as Angela walks in with a tray of food.

"How are you feeling?" Angela asks, placing the tray on his lap.

"I've had better mornings." He answers honestly.

"I think we all have," Angela comments, following his gaze to Valery. "Her mind is... not here. I can't find anything. I wish I had something more cheerful to say... though I guess that's never been my strong suit."

"At least she's breathing..." Trent sighs as he turns towards his food tray. "I need you to make sure everyone is rested and ready today. I want this place checked out and see if we can find anything we can use. We need to figure out where these creatures are coming from. The longer we have this city under our control, the more we can hinder those blasted Devils if they manage to take it back."

Angela sighs, putting a hand on her hip. "I'll get everyone ready to move out. You just eat and relax. That leg of yours isn't ready to hold your weight, and someone needs to keep an eye on her in case she wakes up."

At first, he opens his mouth to protest. Taking another look at Valery, Trent's grip on his fork tightens. "Just be careful and stay alert," Trent says.

"Oh please... I'm the queen of alert. Just try not to disappear while we're getting things done," Angela responds with a grin before heading out of the room.

Turning to his food, he slowly begins to eat as his mind turns toward plans of action. We have about five hours until backup arrives. We need to be able to find something to keep the Devil's Own at bay.

Valery groans, her eyebrow twitching.

"Val?" Trent whispers, shoving his tray aside. He ignores it as it clutters to the ground, hot porridge splattering across the floor. "Val?"

He turns towards her, swinging his legs painfully around to the side of the bed. She whimpers again, this time louder, more terrified. Another eyebrow twitches. "Val, you're ok." He scrambles out of bed, throwing the blankets out of his way. He hits the floor hard, his leg unwilling to hold him. "Val..." He struggles to lean on his good knee, grasping her hand. Looking at her face, he murmurs, "You're ok. You're not alone anymore. You're not alone." With his open hand, he reaches up and strokes her face.

She stirs again.

"Shh, I'm here." He braces his palm against the bed, refusing to let go of her other hand. As he pushes up against the mattress, and raises, he pivots, letting himself fall into bed beside her. "I'm here. You're okay..."

In his arms, his heart beating against her, she relaxes. 'That's right. You're okay," he whispers, laying a gentle kiss on her forehead. She whines, but her body remains motionless. It's as if she's a painting of herself. Incapable of moving, but living. "Shh, Val. You're okay! You're safe. I don't know what's going on in your head right now, but we'll fix this! You're okay, baby girl. I got you. And no one is going to take you away from me again, you hear me?"

He pauses as the door opens. Angela looks at him, questions in her eyes. She gives him a curt nod, telling him the others are ready. He grimaces, turning his gaze back to Valery. "You're safe now, okay? I have you. I love you."

Angela's voice is barely above a whisper as she speaks, her eyes lowering. Swiftly, she moves to Valery's bedside and places a comforting hand on her forehead. "...I can't see what's troubling her," Angela murmurs, her eyes shut in concentration. "It makes no sense! She's clearly in pain, trapped in some nightmare. I should be able to see what it is... This isn't normal."

Trent's memory resurfaces, his face draining of color. "I remember those dreams were haunting her. Her dad's voice. Other dead Guardians... It terrified her," he whispers, anxiety tightening in his chest. "Is it possible she's still seeing that even now?"

"Perhaps," Angela replies softly, her worry evident. "Her subconscious may be ensnared by the memories and fears that this place holds. Still doesn't explain how I can't see it if that's the case. This goes beyond a simple nightmare, beyond the reaches of her mind."

Trent's voice quivers, his eyes rapidly scanning her face. "Did they plan for this to happen, or is it a result of the overdose?" "I don't know," she admits, her gaze fixed on Valery, her heart heavy with worry.

Trent's voice trembles with a mixture of rage and despair. "I killed her uncle. The one person who held all the answers." His words drip with venom, a seething hatred directed at himself and the world around him. "Damn him! Damn, everything he's touched. My parents, her parents, us. This place is cursed. Once I'm out of here, I'm never setting foot back in this accursed place again."

"It's okay." Angela places a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. "We'll find another way. We always do. While we're at it boss man, when are we gonna' start getting a raise for all these rescues? I appreciate all the street cred it's giving me, but we need to talk about you and Val becoming our favorite damsels in distress eventually, huh?"

"Oh, haha... We're never going to settle down, are we?" Trent whispers, running his hand over Valery's face.

"The way you two are going?" Angela asks, looking at Trent with a raised eyebrow. "Highly unlikely. In fact, I think I'm going to get gray hairs from all this without a single kid to blame. Ugh... Hold tight, I'm going to find Matt and update him on the situation."

Trent sighs as Angela walks out, closing the door tight. Looking at Valery, he feels his heart breaking all over again.

"You once told me that you loved me too much to let something or someone take me from you." He pauses to take a deep breath, stroking her hair gently. "It was just after you rescued me, remember? You fought enough for the both of us. Even when I tried to kill you. Babe, whatever is going on, I need you to remember that strength. That bravery. Fight this!" He rummages the ring out of his pocket, returning it to her finger. "I will fight this. I don't know how yet... God knows what they did to you." He buries his face into her shoulder, letting his tears fall, unseen. "I won't let it end like this."

He sobs. He stays with her until his eyes run dry. She doesn't move or respond to his touch.

A knock sounds on the door.

He takes a moment to adjust himself. Rising to his feet, he calls, "...Who is it?"

Angela pops into the room.

"Back up is just outside the city. The council and all the senior warriors are fighting the remaining Devils with all their might. Matt is just about to lead an attack to help them."

"I should be out there."

"And have you in a coma next to Val? Nice try, pal. You're not up for a battle in your condition," Angela says, pushing him to sit down. "I'm going to join them. But I wanted you to know that a few locked doors have been found. We were about to investigate further when Matt got the call."

Trent's jaw clenches at the idea of not helping, Reluctantly, he says, "Hopefully we'll have time to search them later. Go. Do us proud out there."

"You know it. Angel's bless."

"Angels bless," Trent repeats, giving a reassuring smile.

Angela leaves the room. The door shut tight behind her, she takes a deep breath. Shortly afterward, she joins Matt at the main doors of HQ. Guardians and old workers alike are piled together, scattered with their weapons held tightly and fierce expressions. She squeezes through to get to Matt, standing at the front of the mob.

"Got your battery?" Angela asks as she joins Matt at his side.

"I have three. It's game time. How was she?"

"I still don't know why you don't bother just bringing a whole pack... No change. We need to win this."

"And we will. I'm amped. And so is everyone else. Let's bring this city to its knees."

Angela turns to face their forces, getting their attention. She speaks loudly, making sure they all can hear her."This will be a historic battle. We cannot afford to lose. Not now when we are so close to changing history. We all carry anger and hatred in our hearts because of what they have done. Today, I hope you find your peace. Use that anger as fuel. Today is your day to get even. Today is your day to rage. Purge yourself. We fight not just for ourselves. We fight for a better future. A better world. Don't let our sacrifices be in vain!"

Triumphant cries echo throughout the city as every Guardian and supporter raises their weapons in toast. "Let's give these Devils hell!" Matt shouts.

They turn and lead separate groups outside, taking on different sides of the city. The plan is for them to meet at the main road, where their reinforcements would be coming. 

It is a long and hard fought battle. Civilians are cornered by the Devil's Own, but their forces make short work of their enemies. They coordinated with their reinforcements, Angela and Matt splitting their groups to take out the remnants of Devils scattered in the city. Blood stained the streets. Warriors cried out and raged, laying waste to hundreds on the battlefield. The snow begins to melt around them as they finish with triumph, regrouping just outside the city limits. Their groups stand guard, everyone's swords bloody. They lost a few, but those who remain are standing strong.

Everyone is panting. Exhausted. After a moment of silence, Matt spoke. "Well... we made it through," Matt says, leaning against a lamppost. "What about the Council?"

"Already swept through, straight on through the middle of the city, onto HQ." Angela greets him. "They are having us stand guard, making sure Devil's Own don't slink passed. They are going all out, in this to end it."

Matt nods.

"I'll go see what I can find." Matt tells her. "Time to wrap it up." Matt comments as he turns, heading straight back into the city on his own.