Ace tries to approach calmly, as one would approach a small wild animal like an angry dog. Richard steps back timidly, blood dripping from his mouth.

"I'm not your enemy," Ace assures, "Are you hallucinating or something? Do you need to see a doctor?"

"I don't trust them," the wild figure chuckles, now floating in the air beside Richard, "Book it now."

Richard ignores it and asks, "Why should I trust you?"

Ace retorts, "You can stay here and bleed out if you prefer. What's your name kiddo?"

Richard sighs, "Purity. I need to get downtown. You got a car?"

"Downtown?" Ace inquires, "Kiddo we need to get you to the hospital."

"Yeah go to the docs they ask how I got these wounds," Richard explains, "Cops come in and pop a cap in my head."

"Why would they-"

Richard's eyes go wide with madness and despair as he speaks what Ace can tell that Richard knows is true. "Everyone in this town is druggies who shove liquor down the throats of toddlers and cops who will kill any who oposse the cartel. If you wanna get me killed call 911 by all means."

Ace sighs, before conceding, "OK. Put your hood over your face. I'll decide what to do with you after we get you patched up."

Richard nods and pulls his hood over his face, keeping his mask on as Ace and him walk.

"Keeping the mask on?" They ask.

Richard replies, "Can't show my face to someone I just met. I get caught, I don't go to jail, I go to Hell."

Ace sighs as the duo approach their car in the parking lot of the coffee shop. They begins to drive as Richard gives directions. Ace tries to make conversation despite how apprehensive Richard seems to talk.

"So how you end up... like this?" Ace inquires from a mix of curiosity and concern for the safety of the kid.

"Long story."

"Do you enjoy it?"

"I like hurting bad people so what?"

"What did they ever do to you?"

"What didn't they do?"

"Name one."

"Well, met this one kid. Their mom was a crooked druggie cop. Beat the kid's big brother to death. Cartel got her hooked and payed her off with the drugs to fuel her addiction. The cops suck. The parents suck. The teachers at school suck. The only one doing anything less than pure evil is me. And look at me!"

In a burst self hatred Richard removes his mask and exclaims, his eyes tired, his face worn by stress, "I'm a piece of shit! How the FUCK is everyone worse than me!?! I'm the best person in this town and I'm a terrible person!"

"There's people better than you," Ace corrects.

"Yeah sorry mispoke but you get the idea," Richard sighs, "We're here. That house on the left."

Ace pulls up to a quaint white house with a red door, one story, but large enough for a man to live comfortably, and gets out of the car. Ace follows him, holding the wand that they used to enhance their magic.

"So that's really real?" Richard asks.

"Real as I am," Ace explains.

"Can I test that?" Richard inquires slamming on the door and exclaiming, "I got caught and I'm beat bad old timer! Wear your mask I don't know we can trust them but they ain't killed me! Also check out this magic shit that's probably a hallucination!"

An older, fit for his age, man exits the house, looks at Richard, looks at the wand which looks back at him.

"Richard?" The old man asks.

"Yeah?" Richard asks.

The old man points at the wand and exclaims, "What the actual FUCK IS THAT!?!"