Episode Two, Part 5: 

B a d   B l o o d

It was a strange feeling to be torn between two things, to desire them with equal amounts, yet, to know that something would still shatter when you had to chose only one. Wynnlow was caught off guard by how hard it had become to turn himself away from the Bunker - to climb himself up to the exit where the rest of the world existed. 

Somehow, he could see beyond the fear; understand that it was more than just the uncertainty of what would come next, but the knowing itself of what he was leaving behind. When he reached the ground, his sister was starring ahead at the door, as if she was some kind of witness to their departure. 

Wynnlow stood beside her, close enough that their arms were touching - a shoulder to lean on if she needed it. 

"We can always come back." He told her. "You know that?" 

Elara nodded, a frown forming on her face as she continued to stare inside. "But not forever..." She clarified. 

"No, I don't think so." Wynn answered. Quill had wandered his way over, called by the longing to stay. Ares, Fabian and Harlow floating around in the distance. 

"I worry about it too." Quill announced, his eyes also looking forward. "What's gonna happen? What if we don't belong on the ground? If we end up like mum..." 

"Hey," Wynn looked over to him. "What happened to mum... That's not something we have to be afraid of this time. We'll be safe at Basilisk because we're together from now on." He assured them both, then, as Ares drifted over: "all of us." 

"Its hard to leave some somewhere when you thought you'd be there forever." Quill continued. 

"And maybe its just as hard to stay when you don't belong there anymore." They all turned to face Wynn. "We can't look back. Else, we'll never go." 

Ares sighed from his place, hating to admit himself it to himself. "Wynn's right. Fabe and Harlow are waiting. We should get going." He dropped his hand onto Quill's shoulder, pulling him along with him and they walked over to the boys. 

Elara looked up at Wynn, as if giving him one last chance to change his mind, an empathetic smile reaching his lips. "We'll be fine." He promised her. "I won't let anything bad happen to you." 

She relaxed at his words, as though she had been given the courage to follow him, and reached out for his hand. Wynn took hold of it, and pulled her into his side as they turned around and made their departure from the Bunker. Despite what he had said, he did look back, the final glimpse of the door burning into his mind until he was gone. 

Sol was the person who had given him his new life, but he was the one who chose it. 

- 

"Hey, you need to follow me." Dreea burst into the room, her voice bellowing out before the door had even swung into the wall. 

Kodiak stood up immediately, half in shock, half in hope that she had news about Sol. He was on her tail in seconds, hurrying to keep up with her as they hurried out of the Sovereign's Quarters. Atlantis caught sight of the commotion, sitting up from her place in the room as curiosity got the better of her. 

Everyone was gathered by the gates of Basilisk, a crowd forming to witness the scene unfold, a row of guards all armed against whoever was trying to get in. Dreea and Kodiak reached the group, everyone parting to let them through. 

Kodiak had held his breath, a desperation to see his friend on the other side, but he knew that wouldn't explain all the guards, or why the gate was still closed. Even so, once he discovered her, there was still some relief to seeing Wynn and his friends staring back at him, perhaps a small part of him hoping that they could give them some answers. 

They got to the front, Eryx locking eyes with Kodiak as they met, a frustration burning within him at the young boy's presence. 

"What's going on?" Kodiak looked between Eryx and Wynnlow. 

"These traitors want to be allowed back inside," Eryx scoffed, roaring his voice out into the crowd in an attempt to get the people of Basilisk on his side. 

"Then we let them in." Kodiak challenged him. His voice was flat, as if it was the thing anyone would have done, as if Eryx was stupid for not doing it sooner. 

"Are you forgetting that they stole valuable resources from us to get out? That they put our people in danger?" 

"Sol gave me her word that we could come back." Wynnlow interrupted. "Why don't you let her decide what happens to us?" His obvious dislike for Eryx wasn't something that the older man could tolerate very well, and if he had his way, he would have banished Wynnlow right on the spot. 

Kodiak wasn't going to answer Wynn's question, mainly due to him being unable to admit the facts of their situation, but he knew that in spite of his fear, he could use it as an advantage over Eryx. 

"Good idea." He said. "Guards, get the gates open." 

"Sovereign-" Eryx hissed, unable to get his words through. 

"Yes." Kodiak answered. "Yes, I am a Sovereign, and unless Dreea has any objection, then you don't need to speak. As far as I'm concerned, our people elected Riverly as Nobel. That means we stand by her decisions... Dreea," he turned to face her, "anything you would like to add?" 

She smirked over at Eryx, proud that Kodiak had finally found the courage to stand up to him. "I think you said everything I would have done." She answered, rolling her eyes in amusement as Eryx stormed off. 

The two Sovereign's turned to face the guards, nodding for them to continue. The crowd of Basilisk began to break apart, Dreea's glares quickly turning them away. 

Wynnlow was the first of the Bunker Clan to step through the gates, his family following closely behind. He wanted to thank Kodiak for getting him inside, but he knew in his gut that something wasn't right, nothing screaming it louder than Sol's absence. The words spilled out of him, shifting everything as they came. 

"What's wrong?" 

-

two // part five

ɪᴛꜱ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ'ᴅ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ.