The latter part of that hour saw them traveling under the city. The look on Lydia's face made Midge worry but he decided not to comment on it.

Instead he said, "I'll get you home." Nothing. Not even a sound in response. They stumbled into one tunnel after another and Midge stopped when he realized he was by himself. He spun around, quite surprised to find nothing. The tunnel lay in darkness but that shouldn't have been a problem; any reasonable person would just keep going forward.

Midge doubled back and bumped into something. He wasn't sure what to make of Lydia standing there, unmoving. Despite her wide-eyed expression, she stared at nothing he could make out. Silent, he reached out for her and she grabbed his hand.

"Mr. Osbourne?"

"Yeah." Midge tugged her on, confused but in no position to waste time. He took one step to turn and froze, blinded by the white light that fell over them. "What in the hell?"

Lydia squeezed his hand, desperate and relieved. "You can see it, too?"

Midge could see...it, whatever this was. It was a room, unending and brighter than any other he'd ever encountered in the Colony. It was also impossible. The tunnels they traveled were narrow and dingy.

"Don't move," Lydia said, tightening her hold. "I hear a strange sound."

But Midge defied her and twisted from her grip. As soon as he did, the black tunnel engulfed him once more. He was back, looking at their path. That didn't do much for Lydia. He tried to make sense of it. Here she was, standing before him, but unable to focus.

Then it dawned on him and he held her shoulder. This time when the white room came, he looked around it, saddened.

"We're in a house—a pretty powerful one."

"A house?" Lydia asked, panicked. "What kind of house?"

"An E house," Midge explained. "Its owner might have been a woman, maybe that's why it's reaching out to you."

"It's—it's alive?"

With a nod, Midge said, "All things E's create use our life-force, even a cup. Pump enough power into anything and it can take on life. I don't know why it's trying to let you command it like this, but we'd better go before we get trapped."

Midge managed to take a step but Lydia wasn't as fortunate.

"It hurts."

She was right—there was a pull. As much as Midge eased her back, something dragged her forward, too.

Midge stepped close to her, his hand on her waist as he leaned in and whispered against the nape of her neck. "That fear you feel, it'll do no good. I'm here with you and I won't leave you here. I promise. But let go a little."

Lydia's body still tensed. "You don't get it, something's dragging me."

"Then let it. I'm here." He held her close and waited. "I'm here," he repeated.

And then the world faded and came back with a bang. What Midge saw of the structure amazed and terrified him but making Lydia panic would only awaken the house even more. He willed himself to calm and lie—he had no idea how to leave this damn house.

"There we go. Look how nice it is. Let's look around a bit then go back."

Lydia swallowed hard. "We can go back?"

"Course. Here." Midge extended his hand. "Wanna see something clever about our homes? We don't really have to move. The rooms can come to us. Let's see what sort of weapons we're dealing with. Maybe then we can figure out who owned this place."

A wave of the hand brought forth a bare room with a single dagger in it. The sight of it made Midge uncomfortable but he didn't comment.

"How about the resting place?"

The same bare room came into focus. This was either the house of an infant or a desperate soldier. Either way, they needed to leave, and fast.

"Well," Midge said, pepping up. "That makes things really easy, right? Just the one." He waved again and swore under his breath. "My Colony be damned."

Lydia blinked. "Diskettes?" She looked down at her feet—that was the only place to see the floor.

Midge did the same and gaped. "We're up high." When her terrified brown eyes focused on him, he explained. "Different realms, remember. The house are useless stacked like this, but this is not the base house. This one's up, I'd say...midway. Maybe the top." He looked up and around.

Monetary diskettes lined the small room. Midge didn't dare touch one. Someone put them here for safe keeping.

"Mr. Osbourne, look. These aren't data diskettes, look, it's money."

The thought did occur to play it off but Midge wasn't as good an actor. He decided to satisfy his curiosity. "How can you tell?"

"Because they're all different. Data is official. These are personal. And look at the old designs on them. They're...from nobles." Her lips gaped as she turned to him. "Do you think this is the money from Delaney's raid?"

Midge refused to answer. For one, he didn't know and secondly, if it was, someone might know they'd disturbed it.

"Do you still hear that sound?" Midge asked.

Lydia sighed, relieved. "No. It's stopped."

A beacon.

Turning to Lydia, Midge took her face in both hands and smiled. "Now how about we leave this place for another day?" He leaned in close and said, "You just need to relax and let the house know you're coming back and you're all right and it'll let go."

Lydia stare up at him confused but Midge hoped Lydia's misplaced interest in him would provide some comfort.

He stroked her hot cheeks and the white room faded. Lydia's chest heaved as she pressed against him.

"It's gone."

Midge didn't wait to find out if they'd get caught again, he dragged her on.

When they spilled out into a narrow alleyway, Lydia fell to her knees, her clothes sprawled around her. She didn't seem capable of getting up again so Midge gathered her things and waited.

He thought to inquire about it, but something else caught his eye—he'd planned it well; they were right beside the restaurant.

When Lydia managed to stagger to her feet, Midge waited to see if she'd fall again. She was steady.

"You must be hungry. Come on. You won't be sorry for trying this place."

She didn't move at first but eventually she took the shaky steps needed to carry her to the front of the building.

Anticipation of seeing Pan again brought a big smile to Midge's face as they entered. Lydia wasn't smiling. Midge's smile fell too when he spotted his double reclined in a booth, looking bored and miserable.

Queen was there, sitting around as if he anticipated Midge's arrival. He looked startled when their gaze locked. A second later, however, a smug smile formed.

"Took you long enough," Queen said.

"I know. I'm sorry, Boa. Just give me a second," a voice called from a distance.

A waitress limped toward them. The constant shuffle of the woman's feet wasn't a sound Midge liked, but he recognized it right away.

Pan.

Dirty blond hair wound up in a bun, as was custom for those in her culture, the waitress came to a stop before them, still decorating the plate. It always amazed Midge to see that Pan kept in good shape, despite a youthful injury to her leg. She was toned. Her outfit could have done with a bit of work but as soon as she tested to be a medic, she would get a full coat that would hide her clothes, rather than a half coat or the apron that she had now. Really, the outfit needed to go.

The would-be medic looked up from the tray in her hands and shrieked, "Midge." She gaped her mouth several times then looked from Queen to Midge again. "Has...did B—Boa...?" the waitress managed. "What are you doing here?"

Sighing, Queen cast the woman a sideways glance then rolled his eyes. "Obviously, he's looking for some food for his girlfriend."

Pan's right eyebrow rose and Midge waved his hands. "No, no. He's just joking. She and me...we...we're not involved."

Despite standing before Queen, Midge was disheartened to find Pan eying his twin instead of responding. Pan's use of Queen's informal name had lost its sting. It had bothered Midge for a long time, but as it was left over from a childhood promise, Midge had gotten used to it. Never mind that the use of an informal name was reserved for spouses and lovers. Midge had believed Pan when the woman assured him that she simply detested Queen's call name and that was why she'd used it. Hell, Pan could have just used Queen's real name and not the private one. Usually Queen corrected Pan out of its use. Midge waited for him to do that now.

It was stupid to try and catch Pan's attention, but Midge did just that.

"Hey. You off soon?" he asked.

He got a polite nod, but Pan kept her eyes on Queen as she answered. "Yeah, but, I was...I was—I've got a date."

"Oh?" Midge's breath hitched. He cleared his throat. "A date? You're dating already.... I understand."

Pan tore her eyes off Queen eventually and was careful to put the plate down. "I'll...I'm still on duty. Excuse me."

Midge sat, tugging a sullen Lydia down as well. Queen inched the plate in Lydia's direction.

"Here, rich girl. You must be hungry."

"Hey! That was—" Pan swallowed down her protest as she leaned closer to Queen and grumbled. "That was for you, Boa."

Queen didn't respond, instead, he gestured to Lydia to eat. "Try it. She's not half bad." He cut Pan a sharp glance. "But not much for taking a hint, though."

Pan's face reddened to the point where she didn't have a rebuttal as she walked away.

Midge sighed. "You can be a bit nicer to her, you know? Were you waiting on me? I meant to go home, but missed that transport."

Queen's right eyebrow rose. "You're a gaw-ro E. You can leave at any time."

At the silence, Midge almost missed having to fight Lydia off. That side of her was preferable to the gloomy one.

Lydia excused herself and stood, no doubt heading to the restroom.

"What the hell are you still doing with the rich girl?" Queen asked.

"Don't worry. This was a bad idea. I get that now."

"Shit," Queen said, slouching in his chair. "Your boss is looking for you."

Sure enough, Joshua's tight puppet-perfect face peered through the doorway. No doubt he'd never set foot in a cheap place like this; and he didn't.

"Did you see what he did to Lydia's room?" Midge asked, looking over his shoulder to Joshua.

"Joshua did that? Are you sure? Was he trying to get that money?"

Midge chuckled. "Nah. I bet he figured Lydia had taken off. Joshua doesn't handle disappointment well."

Queen snorted out a laugh. "Brat."

"He's gaw-ro scary is what he is. And don't get me started on his mother." Midge sat back once Joshua left. Rubbing his brow, he muttered, "Damn it, I get tired of the rich."

"They are rather useless," Queen agreed. "So what're you still doing down here, Midge? We had a deal."

Midge grumbled. "It's not my fault. I got brought down here."

"It's your fault, you're staying. And we both know you can't stay, right?"

In Midge's eyes, Queenie didn't look identical, but everyone else thought otherwise. Where Midge was uncertain, Queen knew exactly what he wanted, what to do, and what was best. Midge second guessed, Queen never looked back. Midge hoped for the best, Queen hammered away at fate until he got what he wanted. The stark contrast had Midge questioning people's confusion of them each and every day.

"I'm going."

"You're going today? Right? Leave the little woman if you have to. You get outta here before someone's sent for you. Agreed?"

Slouched in his chair, Midge nodded. "Agreed. At least she's going home with something, which is good considering I couldn't get her original diskette back to her."

Queen wrinkled his brow and cocked his head. "Tan's been asking about you, did Ruckus tell you?"

"Yeah," Midge said with a sigh. "Everyone's been telling me."

"If you don't wanna see him...."

As the word lingered, Midge met Queen's gaze and saw the disappointment there.

"I've been busy."

"I know." Queen nodded. "That's what I say whenever he asks. Me going instead doesn't make up for it. You know he hates me."

They both smiled.

Queen glanced at the restrooms again. Midge did as well. There was no one there. However long Lydia would need, Midge decided to take care of his lapse in judgment. A few hours in the Lower-Levels was the best he could do. A day if he was lucky.

Though Queenie rarely slept, Midge needed to rest—and as often as he could manage. Midge looked down at Lydia's clothes, then the diskettes. He cursed himself again. The prospect of chasing after Lydia to return yet another diskette was in no way appealing.

Midge noticed that even after the shift ended, Pan lingered in the back, making excuses to come out now and then. No date. That was a new low. Pan didn't usually lie; she usually just danced around invitations. This was the first time she'd straight out lied. Midge figured she had her reasons and they were no doubt innocent. He'd come all this way—he needed to say what he needed to say to her.

"Come on. We'll go together," Queen said, sitting up.

"Yeah.... About someone being sent...."

Midge let the words linger until Queen's expression turned cold. That also confused him because if that wasn't why Queen had come—damage control—then why?

"So long as you head out, they won't stop you. That's the best I can do for you," Queen said.

But Midge already knew that. Being so close to the higher buildings was enough for now.

"They wouldn't want to risk a public confrontation at your power level. No good will come of it. It'll worsen your condition."

Midge nodded.

"How do you feel?" Queen asked, drawing his attention.

When their eyes met, Midge struggled to give a response. But what was the point?

"Don't give up," Queen said. "We haven't exhausted all options yet. We can beat this."

"The only person who knows how to beat this is trapped in stone for the next century," Midge muttered. "We've been through this. I'll cooperate. I'm not looking for a fight. I...." He glanced at Pan again. Though Midge caught her gaze, she looked away. He'd come all this way. Risked his life and a lot more. In the end, she'd given up. He couldn't really blame her. Even now, what promise could he give her—that he'd be back and he'd somehow find a way to make it work, to make a sync work. Something that no one, E or Yule, had discovered the secret to.

Coming here was a mistake; but he'd known that all along. When he saw Joshua's intent to bring him into the Lower-Levels, he'd told himself it was fate—fate was bringing him back to Pan. But he had nothing to offer her—he never had.

"Leave that broke ass noble and get going, Mikael."

Midge conceded defeat. "Um. Sure. But I have her diskettes. And we haven't paid for the hotel or anything."

Queen shrugged. "All the better. Bring them there and dump them in the room. We'll meet at Big Henry and climb to the ceiling. You've got work, anyway, right?"

Groaning, Midge slipped from the booth.

Queen scoffed as he reclined. "Tell rich girl she's gotta bend at the knees."

Midge made it as far as the restroom door. This was Lydia's business and Midge had no real say in what she did. He didn't even know if he quite understood it, though he did know the physical was a large part of human nature.

This was just Lydia's physical. She needed something physical and Midge couldn't...wouldn't accommodate. Rather than walk in on whatever Lydia was doing, Midge resolved to knock.

His knuckles hadn't even connected with the door before it slid open. The stranger stepped back at the sight of him. With one tug to adjust his necktie, he walked past Midge and returned to his table, no doubt to enjoy the rest of his meal.

The door slid shut again.

Midge waited for some time. He looked up at the sign and checked to make sure he'd selected the right door; he had. Nobody came out.

No Lydia.

***

Another gentle rap at the door, and Lydia closed her eyes, leaning back against it.

Eventually she'd have to leave, but she couldn't bring herself to. Her face still throbbed, and the prospect of going out there and letting Midge see her like this, or better yet, Queen, was too much.

If she stayed there long enough, maybe she could think of an excuse.

A glance in the mirror told her that was a stupid idea. This wasn't how she envisioned the night. She didn't put up much of a fight, but still....

"Hey," Midge's muffled voice carried from the other side. "You're worrying me. So you have two options: either I go out there and drag that asshole back here and pummel him within an inch of his life until he explains it to me. In which case I'll get arrested. Or...or you can open the door and let me see if I can help. I was a medic."

Enough with the help. You can't gaw-ro help. Nobody can help.

"I can try to help," Midge answered. "Just let me. Please."

Midge counted down from ten.

Lydia opened the door.

"Hey," Midge breathed out. "You all right?"

Mute, Lydia bit the inside of her bottom lip and nodded. "I'm all right."

If Midge hadn't dipped low to look up at her, he wouldn't have seen the torn shoulder of her right sleeve, and wouldn't have held his breath. He did inhale, finally, and Lydia found herself confessing within a matter of seconds.

"I...I wouldn't... the bastard came a little too close. That's all."

Midge nodded once. He became silent, and still. When he turned to march out, Lydia caught him.

"No. Please. Please let me explain. Where are you going?"

"To have a chat with your unwanted bedfellow."

She held on. "What? No. It's no big deal. I got what was coming to me. I initiated this—I invited him in."

"Then why do you have a busted lip?"

Lydia struggled to find an answer. "I couldn't judge distance well. He was suddenly too close, and then I hit the door running."

As soon as she said it, she regretted being so candid.

"I initiated this. And I backed out. The ripping clothing thing started with me. He just followed suit and I...I backed down halfway. The rest was an embarrassing fiasco."

Silence filled the space between them for so long that Lydia couldn't look away. She feared a scoff, a laugh, a look of disgust—especially the disgust. But Midge did an amazing thing, however, he looked Lydia in the eye. "What can I do? You have some other clothes. Can I bring you those?" He raised his right hand. "Non-bloodied from me beating the shit outta that guy?"

Lydia searched Midge's expression for any hint of mocking or insincerity.

"I'm really not into that," she whispered again but what was the point? The look on Midge's face either meant he'd read her emotions or he could simply tell that this wasn't true.

Midge stared back. "I'm not one to judge. I just want to help, so what can I do?"

What could he do?

Head hung, Lydia muttered, "Just...don't tell your brother."

"I'll bring you your clothes," Midge announced and turned to walk out. He was back in no time to Lydia's relief. It'd be too hard to live through a double shame for the night.

"I'll wait outside," Midge said. He stepped by the door, keeping guard after allowing it to close.

Lydia didn't expect to see him again. No doubt, Midge would take off. Regardless, she did hurry to change. A small box of condoms was tucked away neatly under the back of her shirt. She took that one out first. She didn't need it. She didn't need the inhaler either. What she needed was to stop with all this imp-shit random sex. Tonight had been awful—yet good on so many levels. Each and every attempt at sex she'd tried tonight revolted her. She hadn't been able to let anyone touch her, even in the hotel when Midge reserved the room. This was her last attempt and this humiliation confirmed her suspicions. She wanted Midge.

Before, anything would do, but now, she really just wanted this E.

It wasn't the first time Lydia had left a would-be lover's presence bloodied, but it'd be the last, the absolute last. After she changed, she opened that door to find Midge still there. Though she was grateful for the man's presence, she focused on something else.

Nothing'd changed.

She was as far away from home as she could get, holding the one thing she'd been praying for—credits—yet nothing'd changed. She was still hunting for cheap sex and feeling miserable for it. It wasn't her life that was fucked up...it was her. Running wasn't going to solve it.

"For a split second, I thought maybe...maybe things could be different for me, but I know that's not true. Leaving my family isn't what I need. Taking care of them is. I need to take care of my mother. I think I should go home as soon as I can."

Midge nodded. "Big Henry it is."

Lydia conceded defeat with a nod. "I guess so."