With a smirk on her face and a cigarette dangling between her lips, Sevika walked by your side, not leaving you one step behind. She knew that loosing you in the crowd or worse, letting it happen that you get hurt, would city her head.

The amused shimmer in her eyes made clear that she knew exactly what position you were in now.

And she also knew that you were sort of her second boss now.

"So, Samaritan.", she took a deep breath from the cigarette. "I don't want to be noisy..."

"Then don't be.", you answered and punched her from the side. "None of your business."

Gasping in surprise, she almost swallowed the cigarette.

"You're fucking the eye of Zaun! How is that none of my business?"

With a glance to Jinx, you rolled your eyes and sighed.

"How is it supposed to be your business?"

"He's my boss?"

"So you have to know who he's messing with?"

"Not exactly, but I must say I am less surprised by him and more by you."

Frowning, you threw a glance at her from the corner of your eyes.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?", you asked, feeling a little attacked. "Is that good or bad?"

She shrugged and pulled the hood of her cape deeper into her face.

"I'd say yes.", she answered.

Sevika was smart enough to know that a bit too much honesty could mean big trouble. She knew how vain Silco could be and she also knew that you were most likely more on his side than hers.

It might have been possible to joke with you, but it seemed unlikely to her that you were willing to drag your new partner through the dirt.

"Well, at least I don't need to worry that you're trying to take him from me.", you joked and snatched the cigarette from her mouth to put it out. "Please don't smoke. The merchant has a few nasty traps prepared. Some light up as soon as heat is close."

Her lips twitched and it was obvious that she didn't believe what you said. But she also did not dare to argue.

If you were tough enough to fuck around with Silco, you would most certainly be though enough to mess with her as well.

Shrugging, she agreed and checked the ally before the two of you with her eyes.

"We need to keep an eye on Jinx.", she said as the blue haired devil snatched something from a merchants stall without being noticed.

"Impressive.", you mumbled and opened your hand to accept what she was offering. "Is it a bomb?"

Jinx shook her head.

"Not yet.", a shimmer lit up inside her big blue eyes. "But I can change that."

Smiling, you rubbed her head and let the thing slide into your pocket.

"Don't get caught. The merchants take hands or lives if you take their wares without paying."

"I don't get caught. Ever."

The serious look on her small face made you chuckle.

"I'll take your word for it, Jinxie Dinxie.", your eyes turned back to the street, only to make you stumble in fright.

A face appeared in the crowd, changed yet so familiar.

Struck by surprise, you almost choked on your own breath. Panic filled your eyes and made your heart beat faster than lightning. It felt like something inside was about to shatter.

Frowning, Sevika turned to you.

"Samaritan?", she asked and checked where you were looking at. "Are you alright?"

You swallowed hard. One blink of the eyes and the figure was gone. But the feeling remained. The pain of the past remained.

Closing your eyes, you took a deep breath in and tried to gather your thoughts. But it was hard to calm down.

"N-nothing.", you mumbled, but couldn't help and checked the spot again where the shadow of the past had been standing.

Sevika looked you up and down. She seemed concerned.
With a worried look on her small face, Jinx grabbed your hand and squeezed it tightly.

"You look like you've seen a ghost.", she said, eyebrows pulled together.

You nodded. A bitter taste spread in your mouth.

"I thought I've seen someone. Someone who I thought was buried long ago.", your trembling eyes jumped back to Sevika. "Let's move on. We can't waste time. The merchant is an impatient man."

She nodded. But it was clearly visible on her face that she was not entirely satisfied with the answer.

As you turned around a corner, followed by Sevika and Jinx ahead, the feeling was still there.

It felt like it was nestling in your chest, digging into your heart and corrupting your mind. Sighing, you closed your eyes and had to massage your forehead.

A headache was pressing against the skull.

"It can't be.", you mumbled, tortured by memories that resurfaced. "I put bullets inside him myself. He couldn't have survived that..."

Suddenly, the feeling of a hand presst onto your shoulder.

Struck by surprise, you turned around, grabbed the scalpel in your pocket and pointed the tip threateningly at the persons face. Your hands were shaking, your entire body was tense.

Surprised by the sudden reaction, Sevika raised her eyebrows.

"Why so nervous?", she asked, a suspicious shimmer appearing in her dark eyes. "Getting paranoid?"

With a cold expression on your face you lowered the scalpel. But something in the back of your brain refused to put it back into your pocket.

Your grip tightened.

"I'm not sure.", you pressed out between clenched teeth. "I might... start seeing ghosts."

"You're nervous, I understand that. But rest assured that I can't let anybody harm you. Silco would make my life hell if anything happens to his daughter or his partner."

As she addressed you as his partner, heat shot through your head. Blushing, you had to hide a smile by clearing your throat.

"We're- I mean... I'm not sure what we are.", you mumbled.

"You two are fucking. That's closest to Silco that anybody has ever gotten."

"So I can just call myself his better half now? Just like that?"

She shrugged.

"He would hate that. But that doesn't change the fact that he cares for you. That's a badge of honour. He cares for very few people around him."

"Hm. But that won't save me..."