Blake, unlike most nights, wasn't getting the sleep he needed. He probably woke up 10 times before he surrendered and looked through his bag. Thankfully everything was still in there. They had strapped a leather band on his arm where the ribbon would be, letting people know that he was under careful watch. He sighed lightly as he continued to look through his things as the sun rose. The others woke up and got moving. He was stationed with Blue until further notice. She was kind about letting people stay and had her whole region and Silver in her place. Blue went over and noticed his condition.

"Did you even sleep?"

"I gave up after the tenth try." She sighed.

"You could've used it today."

"This is the first time I'm awake before most of the group. Consider it lucky."

"No way. Why don't you sleep?"

"If I had fallen asleep, I would've wanted to watch the attempts of waking me."

"Oh? And you think it would be hard?"

"Sōdo still hasn't found a successful way."

She huffed as she went to the kitchen. He lightly hummed as he stood up and stretched. She came back with some food and held it out.

"You're the thinnest one here."

"In this building, yes. But I eat plenty. If you want to hit someone about not eating, jump on Sōdo. He skips lunch regularly and only eats one dinner a week." Blake took the food as he spoke.

"Yet you're thinner than he is."

"I look thinner. But I have my reasons." He sat down before eating up. She frowned before going over to Red. He glanced at her as she sat down.

"Sōdo in your group. Can you keep an eye on him? There's a lot to uncover about him."

"Of course."

^~*~^

Blue, Silver and Blake went back to Blake and Sōdo's home. Silence and mystery circled it as Blake touched the doorknob. It opened with no problem. The other two stared.

"Of course... Sōdo left it open."

"Why would he?"

"He doesn't have a key. I have one, but he denies my offer to give him one. I don't know why."

They went inside and a dead feeling filled the air. Blake looked around for his roommate, but the place was empty. He frowned at the sight. The whole place was clean. Almost like it was never touched.

"The hell?" He whispered. He obviously wasn't prepared. There wasn't even a note.

"What?"

"We had a lot in here and now the whole place is empty. There's nothing here."

"Maybe he moved?"

"There's nowhere for him to go. I took him in after we met. I was having a hard time getting back into the country, he aided me getting in and I got the place. If he moved, he would be very limited to either Shilly's district or the Coille Toirmisgte Kwelinye ilizwe lakho." He frowned. "I think I said that right..."

"Is it German? Because I've never heard it said so cleanly."

"I'm guessing on it. I don't know. But it's not German. I think I said it wrong."

"I've heard it from the street. It sounds accurate. Why do you say that?"

"I don't know. It doesn't feel right. I've seen the name, but I haven't been able to say it. Yet here and now I said it. I don't believe it."

"Maybe you heard someone else say it."

"Maybe..." He hummed. "But it doesn't explain anything. He didn't even leave a note. Nothing. Where is he..."

"Well the blades have a meeting. Maybe he went there?"

"Then where's the note? He would've at least left that to tell me." Worry crossed his face.

"Is... Sōdo your partner?" He stayed quiet as he looked around. She sighed as she watched. "Is there anything you need to grab?" He paused and looked at her.

"No. I didn't have much as it is. Anything I have is in my bag."

"Just in case you have to leave the country?"

"Um, no. I wouldn't do that. Not if my life depended on it." The duo looked confused as he sighed. "Let's just go." He went out the door. Blue looked around before following. Blake looked up at the sky. So... where to?"

"You have questions to answer. So we're taking a walk and you're answering them."

"And if I don't?"

"We'll see."

The trio went through town to the park in the middle, one of the only spots of wildlife in the whole town. While trees were scattered across town and mini gardens were seen, this was the second biggest area of wildlife. They went and sat down in the bench area.

"Ok... why did you return?"

"I was hoping I would be able to get back before the ceremonies were over. But I was a day too late."

"You're saying it like you left before you got your ribbon. What rebelling party are you part of? The Ralcse? The Unti? The Cornte?"

"What? No. I wasn't trying to rebel. I was forced out of the country before my ceremony. I fought to get back in, but it was hopeless. I battled for years until I was finally able to leave the grasps of my cage and flee to here. But it was not only a struggle to get in, but far too late. And here I am. In the hands of defeat."

"Lies are all I hear." Blake's head lowered in defeat.

"I have never heard of those names until today. The fact that you don't believe me just proves where I stand. The hands of defeat hold me until I am taken to the light of victory. But even with my position, it's impossible to achieve. I might as well surrender while I breathe."

"Surrender to what? Just answer the questions truly."

"I am!" He stood up and looked the senior in the eye. "You're not believing me. So why should I try when I can't be trusted? I'd rather surrender than be unbelieved. Because I'm not fighting a battle I can't win." He sat down and put his face in his arms. Blue frowned. Why didn't he want to cooperate?

"Alright. If you won't help, where's your partner?"

"Who?" He whispered.

"Togalach lann duilleach coitcheann."

"Dunno." His voice dropped further. It was almost unheard.

"Blake, if you want to be believed, you need to help."

"I am..." He mumbled. "You're not giving me easy questions. I don't know."

"Blake... I want to believe you, but both of you are better than one." He hummed as he stayed where he was.

"Should've walked out when I did..." He whispered. Blue paused at his words.

"Pardon?"

"When I was trying to come back in, the people running the gates started saying that I had to stay outside and started pushing me out. My partner saw me not resisting and broke us both in. I should've stayed outside. I should've listened." Blue watched him as he spoke. "If I had, maybe this wouldn't be happening. I'd be able to find somewhere new and safe." She frowned. Blake hadn't made many friends and was always making enemies.

He had a hard time with his superiors and never was liked by the younger Dexters. And seeing him like this hurt.

"So what are they going to do, send me away?"

She stopped and stared. He was caught, but was he already thinking of the punishment? If he helped, he could stay! Why didn't he understand that?

"Are you really not going to help?"

"It would be better to take the punishment."

" No way in hell. If you help, we can talk to the leaders and make a deal-"

"And what? Keep me here where I'll be ribbonless and be given glares of hatred? You might be able to save me from the upper hands, but my life wouldn't last. I'm an outcast."

"We can get you a ribbon-"

"At my age, it would have to be scheduled by the parent of the child and made for a secretive day that is not special and is alone." He stated, sitting up with a red face. He rubbed it before looking at her.

"Don't you have family?"

"Unless you count the one outside of the country, none that I know."

She stared at him. He looked away before muttering:

"I'm better off getting kicked out."

"What? But you're the strongest-"

"Second strongest." He whispered.

"Huh?" Blue and Silver glanced at each other.

"Sōdo is stronger than me. Ruby has the ability to be stronger than me, but he stays under me. Everyone in our little group holds the top with Green following under and Yellow beneath him. That's the chain."

"How is Sōdo stronger than you?"

"Don't know. I don't think I will. He's always been ahead of me." Blake stared off. Blue sat down beside him.

"We could find a way to get you a ribbon. I'm sure you have family."

"Yeah, take your time with that. You'd be better off letting me take the hit I deserve."

"After all you've done? No. We are to help each other." He hummed as he stared off into the distance. "So either help us out or we'd have to lock you up. Because we're not going to let you go. No one of the upper hands would want you to go after finally grabbing you. Let us help."

"Put me where you think I belong. Because I don't see help. All I see is pain."

He then went back to staring off. She stood up and pulled her phone out. She tapped a button and waited. She went off to the side and talked to whoever was on the other end. She went back with a sigh.

"Well?" Silver looked kinda sad, but looked at her in a calm manner.

"He'll be picked up by the detention center tomorrow. He will break. He can't stay like this forever." Silver nodded.

^~*~^

That next morning, Blue greeted her mother, the owner of the center, with Blake beside her. The men took him into the cart they had prepared. She nodded to her mother and the cart left. Guilt filled Blue as it vanished into the morning fog. She went back in and watched Red and Green have a collision in front of the bathroom. The only reason they separated was because Yellow needed was trying to go in and Silver was trying to leave. She sighed at the exchange at the bathroom door. Red went over to her with a sigh.

"Did you get anything out of Sōdo?"

"He never showed."

"What? Did he send a note in?"

"Nothing." She hummed.

"He wasn't at the house when we went. Wonder where he is..."

"Yeah..."

^~*~^

A figure stood over the street as it watched them take Blake. The person laughed after Blue vanished inside.

"Tha thusa, Gorm, air a dhol thairis air loidhne cunnartach. Aon nach urrainn dhut a dhol tarsainn a-rithist. B 'e seo an rabhadh mu dheireadh agad. A-nis tha thu air an nàmhaid a chùl-ghairm. Ithuba lakho kuphela lokuba uvumele imfazwe kunye nemvisiswano yenze uhambo lwabo kwaye ivumele uxolo ukuba lucule nenyanga kunye nolwandle. Vumela ubusuku ukuba bacule ukusebenza okulahlekileyo kwiminyaka emininzi eyadlulayo. Njengoko ungayi kuwa de umculo wakho kunye nomdaniso udibanise ukunyuka kokubonisa iintsomi kunye namahemuhemu, nina moya kunye neentsomi, iimfihlakalo kunye namabali. Masibuyise into ongakwaziyo kwaye nethuba lethu lokubonisa inyani yethu mayingakhathazeki, kodwa ngethemba, nembeko, nokunyaniseka. Uya kubukela njengobusuku, uve Kwi-silhouette yakho yokugqibela siya kuphakama. Enguard, diejenigen, die die Freiheit der Verletzten verweigern. Wir werden sehen, wer zuerst aufsteht. Weil du siehst, wie dein Ziel auf sich selbst fällt."

And with that, the figure vanished as the sun touched the rooftop.