Her words had been bold for a dying soul. She wondered if it had been too bold for her purposes.

Rein balanced the apple core between her teeth, pulling out the map and marking it with the road she had on her phone so the others could follow along in her explanations. She started to print out another sheet of paper, of a rough estimate of the area where Lucky was. She hoped this one time would be enough for them to understand her plan. During her dozens of retries, one thing had made itself clear, and that key was essential in ending her time loop once and for all.

The only reason they'd been brought into the fight at all was because they'd tried to save Lucky, and they'd continued to fight even after his death because the organization was trying to kill them to do away with anybody who could become a threat later. Chrollo often proposed similar strategies, to leave no one behind who could interfere with their purposes. If that was also the mentality of the enemy, withdrawal wasn't an option.

Lucky died because he was the organization's sole target. Zushi died because the enemy was too many and he was inexperienced. Zepile died by arriving at the battlefield despite having no fighting skills or plan in mind. Phinks had been impaled with something she saw as a Conjurer item, which meant that he must have been up against someone who could seal Nen. Machi had been alive and fighting, but her task would be difficult with injured hands. Rein herself had pulled through out of desperation and being brought into the same circumstances repeatedly. Gon, Killua, and Kalluto had disappeared to the other side of the battlefield, so she didn't know how they fared during all of this. She pleaded that they be alright.

Yes, most of this scenario had a line of sense running through it. There was only one factor that didn't add up, and that factor was Feitan Portor.

A few times, she'd seen him with blood trickling down a gash on his chest. Impressive, considering it took a lot to break his skin. He had the most fluid and controlled aura out of all of them. It didn't matter how skilled his opponent was, or even if they managed to hurt him. Because somehow, throughout all of this, Rein had always believed him to be stronger.

Feitan's ability—Rising Sun—was a Hatsu that rode on his emotions, such as rage or excitement. If he received injuries, it would only make his ability stronger. With Rising Sun, they could win easily, burning to a crisp all who stood against them. So why was it not being used?

One could argue it was because he'd lost Phinks, or motivation because Lucky was dead. But that logic was weak. Nothing could hold him back, and she knew he wasn't one to dwell on past events or to let it affect his fighting ability. Even if such a thing leaked into his state of mind, it would only fuel his rage and empower his flames.

He'd been far from defeated, and he would never let any low thing such as past emotional matters trifle him in the glory of fighting. So why were his Transmuter abilities left sealed? The question had run itself through her head multiple times before she'd come to a conclusion: Unless it was for pure gain, Feitan never attacked his own allies, not directly.

They were standing in his way, which meant there was only one path they could possibly take. In the moments after rescuing Lucky, they needed to clear the area while leaving all the organization in Feitan's hands, and bring themselves to safety as he brought down the full heat of his wrath upon them. This was their only option, and after dozens of tries at other methods, she didn't think there would be any other way to break free. They had to do this. She had to do this. Otherwise Lucky would die and Phinks would die and others would too and she would be left all alone and they would all be dead-

That word. It ghosted through her thoughts unheeded, and flowed off the tip of her tongue just as smoothly. She tested it aloud.

"Dead."

She waited for some sort of response from herself, and the emptiness that greeted her was haunting. A dull shiver rippled over her skin at just how easy that word was now.

"Rein?"

Her canine cracked down on an apple seed, bringing her back to her senses. "Gon."

"You had a plan, right?" He sat down next to her and observed the map with vigor, and the others started to come in. She'd been right to have him gather everyone else while she prepared the map. Though it was only five in the morning, his demeanor made him possible to ignore no matter how one wished to stay asleep. "It's great how you came up with a plan in such a short time."

Short. She leaned back and let him think so. Though her appearance seemed to rattle him at first, he treated her normally, chattering as usual and smiling all the same. It was a nice change from the wary and concerned looks she got from everyone else. She was grateful.

As soon as everyone was seated, she dropped the apple core in a nearby trash can and rolled out the map to its fullest. "This is the path to where Lucky is. Shal tracked his phone. And this," Rein gestured at a smaller area and didn't allow anyone to question what she'd just said, "is where Feitan is going to go all out and get rid of the enemy all at once. The rest of us only have the goal of getting Lucky out safely." She met each of their gazes, and for a brief moment forgot the aching pain clinging to the bags under her eyes.

A brief flash of black clouded her vision, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving her sight blurred and swaying. Her head pounded for a fleeting moment but it passed as well, and she ignored all this.

"Questions?"

*     *     *

She'd explained each of the main obstacles on the path there, and as the sun finally started to creep across a blue sky, Rein realized they were making the trek in record time.

Lately, she'd been surprised with how well they all had been listening to her. They didn't ask for much confirmation or explanation, only took her word for it though she hadn't said anything about why she knew. Rein suspected that maybe the Spiders were catching on. Machi was the one who'd tended to her injuries, old and new, and she knew better than all of them how such an old scar was impossible to receive over the course of one night. Add that up with other irregularities, such as her demeanor or the rhinestone-studded phone that had appeared out of nowhere, and with Machi's keen gut feeling it would be no wonder if she'd figured out a reason behind all this.

The Scarlet Eyes appeared during emotional distress, after all. It wouldn't be too difficult to connect the Specialist aspect with how worn down Rein looked once one had all the pieces.

Once the Spiders were on her side, it took only a while to convince the rest to listen to her words.

She'd attempted to convince Zepile not to follow after them, but Rein doubted he would do as she asked. She'd tried many times before, but every time she would see him in the same position, hunched over his son. And while she didn't blame him—he'd finally found family after such a long time and was coming to terms with it—it was such terrible timing for a man with no combat ability to come to his senses during the day of battle.

But they'd left early enough, gotten to the location quickly, and she'd even shut Zepile out while she'd discussed the plan, taking measures to even lock him indoors as soon as they left. Even if he did come, he would come after everything was cleaned up. So he was one person she'd been able to save so far.

Now she had to help everyone else.

She slid to a stop in the middle of the forest, kicking up clouds of dirt. "Lucky is that way," she said, breathless. "We..." Rein paused herself here, trying to determine the best numbers. But there was no way to tell, was there? Her breath shook at the base of her throat, and she had to gulp before saying: "...all. We'll all go to where Lucky is, except Feitan. You stay here and fight, and use your Hatsu once you feel us clear the area."

There was a brief bout of annoyance spread across his face at being given orders, but he did nothing else to retaliate against it as he scanned his surroundings.

They left him behind, speeding ahead to where Rein informed them Lucky would be. She forced herself to face forward and assured herself if Feitan was really all that everyone expected of him, he would pull off his task easily. The plan had to work.

*     *     *

"Lucky!" Rein shot herself forward with an extra boost, ramming him head-on and knocking him off his feet as they went tumbling to the ground. They rolled for a distance before coming to a sprawled halt.

His features displayed terror for a moment before recognizing who it was. He smiled. "Re-"

She couldn't help but kick her legs up and down childishly, expressing everything her voice couldn't. It had been a while since she'd seen him alive. When she heard everyone else come up she stood as well, motioning for Lucky to stay down.

"Yo," Killua said, a casual hand in the air as he trotted over. "Still not dead, huh?"

"That's real harsh," Lucky responded, pressing a hand to his side and trying his best to not take labored breaths. But by the time his gaze landed on Machi, his breathing had become more like gasps for air, the effects of being on the run for several hours finally catching up to him and taking its toll. Sweat plastered his bangs to his forehead as he panted, strength leaving his limbs.

Phinks stepped forward and grabbed Lucky by the arm, who did little to complain as he was lifted up over the man's shoulder with as much ease as hoisting a sack of potatoes. "Fei told me to tell you," he mentioned, crouching down to hide them both in the shade of the bushes, "you look pathetic."

His sigh was as short of breath as the rest of his exhales, but it was there. "Thanks."

"So?" Phinks looked to Rein. "Which way we headed?"

After checking, she pointed, "That way. But we still have to be careful of any lingering enemies, so we might have a few detours."

"On that note," Machi cupped a hand to her ear, "I don't think we'll have to worry. It sounds like Feitan is receiving the brunt of it."

"That bastard," said Phinks angrily, standing up and carrying Lucky on his back towards where Rein had gestured, kicking the ground as he went. "He's having fun without me while I have to play along with brats over here. He's not getting off with just broken bones if he rubs it in my face later."

"Zushi, Gon, and Killua, stay in a triangle formation surrounding Phinks," Rein continued to instruct. "Kalluto and Machi, go on the sides and watch carefully for any opponent. It's the shortest distance to attack that way. I'll be in the back."

Machi's head tilted questioningly at the vital position Rein was in, but she let it slide and simply did as the girl asked.

They could trust Machi's sharp hearing, she knew. If Feitan was holding back the lot of them, all for the better. The more difficult the task was, the hotter and more efficient his rage-fueled flames would be, and they could rid themselves of their worries quicker.

Rein followed after them as best she could, looking back almost every second and concentrating on her hearing for any snap of a twig or a rustle of leaves that felt out of place. A shadow darted between two trees and Rein brought up her sling, swinging it around in buzzing circles as a simple stone came to rest as a sturdy weight in its middle. The second the overshadowed head peeked out from behind shelter, her wrist snapped sharply as she sent the stone hurling toward its target. She looked elsewhere as she heard him groan and fall lifeless.

A pause. Her body continued in motion—running back, seeing, throwing, hitting, (killing). But there was nothing behind her eyes now; an empty girl making her way through the trees. As they went on, the roaring of a gargantuan waterfall rushed through her ears and stifled the cries of the others she managed to hit. She could not hear them, not anymore. She was grateful for the water crashing onto the rocks below.

It made her deaf to what she was doing, and if she closed her eyes she could disregard it completely.

Blood?

No.

Darkness.

Sweet darkness and white noise.

It was only a mere moment that her eyes were shut, but her heel caught on a loose tree root. Her eyes opened as she fell back and landed on grass-padded ground. Rein blinked, and turned her head in a drugged state.

All of them, they were so far away now. She'd fallen behind. She had to catch up.

Rein pushed herself up and didn't notice how the world swayed beneath her feet. They couldn't leave her behind. Please, they couldn't leave her behind, they couldn't leave her! She watched as their figures became smaller and smaller, and her hand reached out to them silently. No, don't leave, they couldn't-!

Suddenly, she dropped to one knee. Her arm somehow managed to respond in time and stop her fall before she could collapse completely, sparks flying up her nerves and snapping herself wide awake. She gasped for breath, air hitting the back of her throat in a stinging wave. The grit bit at her palms and all her conjured items fizzled into nothing, escaping between her fingers like foam through water. Rein watched as it all faded away; her carefully conjured sling, her stones, and the sight before her, their running backs too far ahead for her to call out to them.

It came to her in unforeseen pain, and she clenched her teeth together as she clutched her head. Something was hammering at her skull from the inside out, an immense pressure building up at the base of her eyeballs and shooting blood into her vision. She tried to scream, but her tongue fell mute to the throbbing of her head. Rein curled in on herself as a gargle made its way up the back of her throat, and she struggled against the dirt in a feeble attempt to make it stop.

Feitan's En was wide, but it lost to the effects of Rising Sun.

She pressed her knuckles against her forehead, her body still writhing on the ground. She forced herself to stand, though it felt like nails were piercing themselves into her bones.

If she stayed any longer and he knew about it, he wouldn't be able to use his Hatsu. On the other hand, if she was already out of range of his En, then...

There was an explosion of fire and smoke, shooting ahead to where she shakily stood. Her sight was already dark and murky, but even she could register the sheer force of the flames coming her way, tearing through trees and burning leaves to cinders.

Her voice caught in her chest. She tried to push past her splitting skull and somehow move away from the destruction, but it caught up to her all to quickly as her back was scorched by the full heat of his hot flames. It pressed against her exposed skin and bubbled under the intense hotness. Rein grit her teeth as she fell back and stumbled off the cliff side, disappearing into the deep watery blue below.

Things have been depressy lately so here's something funny I found a while back on Pinterest:

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