KEREN

Ethan's side trip ended at the border of their territory, outside an edevic weaponry and gadget store. Original designs of current wristpads and augmentation lined the windows, with holoboards denoting power capabilities for previous iterations. Keren tapped his own and measured the price of a distance augment, but stopped when Ethan put a hand on his shoulder.

"We'll window shop later." He smiled. "I need to take care of Jesti's problem."

Business? Unease bubbled in his throat with acidic ferocity, but he followed Ethan inside with weights in the soles of his boots. The door slid open when we stood on the powered pad. A little bell jingled a tune to alert the front counter of a customer. I don't think Ethan's here to shop, and tonight I have to go back down to... the sub-level. Panic dug its thorns in his heart, but he forced his hands stiff at his sides and stayed in Ethan's imposing shadow when he headed to the counter, where a burly man had his back turned, shuffling through the cabinets. Keren frowned at the shakiness in his frame, but he stayed out of it.

"Are you looking for something, Mr. Guon?" Ethan asked with his arms folded.

Mr. Guon jolted as if Ethan struck him with a whip. He snapped around to face my brother. "Mr. Malakai." He pressed his hands together. "Jestirian already came by—"

Ethan rolled his shoulders and came closer. "So I've heard, so maybe you want to tell me what you did to send him into a panic. Our terms were very, very clear, so I want to know what you did," he said, his voice lowering as he pressed himself against the desk. "Your payments have rolled around, but you didn't hand them over to Jestirian. He has a penchant of talking himself out of things, but you should remember I'm not so willing to bend over backwards for you." Keren frowned at the cold rage folding Ethan's brow. "You will tell me what happened here when Jestirian came."

Transfixed, Keren listened close.

"I'll have the money, I told Jestirian that," Mr. Guon complained. "I just need a little more time."

"And what is the excuse this time?" Ethan bit. "I also noticed you didn't answer my other question. You should've known I'd come in lieu of Jestirian if something went wrong." He inched for the edge, and Mr. Guon pressed his back against the wall. "Was there some sort of altercation?"

Keren widened his eyes when Mr. Guon's gaze flicked to the side, to the back entranceway. If Ethan noticed the same as him, he gave no indication, so he once more kept his mouth shut against a lie. "I'll have it, Ethanius, by the end of this week," he whimpered when Ethan's shadow engulfed him. "I don't know what Jestirian's talking about."

Keren looked between the two. A lie hung in the air, and Ethan narrowed his eyes.

"You know, the boss won't like to hear that, Mr. Guon, so I advise you have it ready by our allotted time, not yours," Ethan said, cold as space. Keren glanced at Mr. Guon when Ethan nudged him for the front door, with Mr. Guon slipping closer to the back entrance. Another bell rang, and they left the shop.

Words choked his throat, left unsaid. "Ethan—"

"Sh." Keren went silent with the malice webbing the air. Ethan's arm rested around his neck and his hand clung onto his shoulder. "Walk." His gaze flicked to the side, over his head, but he didn't turn his face in full. Electricity gripped his spine, but he forced his feet through the miles of ice when Ethan pushed his hand into his back. Keren opened the door, timing his own breathing before slipping into the passenger seat. He frowned when Ethan went around the front, a hand on his hidden blaster. His heart scratched against his ribcage when he entered the driver's seat, but didn't start the car.

"What's—"

Ethan raised a finger, but then started the car after a long second. On the road, Keren dared lift his head. Intent dripped down his spine at the two suited figures milling on the corner near the store. The underworld's constant game of control and threats. Keren gripped onto the edge of the seat, and trembled. Out of range of the shadows, Keren released a breath. "Ethan."

"Jesti didn't tell me something, why...?" Ethan mumbled under his breath.

"Why'd you threaten Mr. Guon?" Keren pressed.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Because I think he has done something he knows might lead him to his death if he wants to bounce sides... and I think Jesti may have seen something he shouldn't have," he growled. "Or... noticed something and bolted when he still had the chance. If you give someone a little push, they will reveal things they don't mean to." Irritation and a touch of rage entered his green eyes, but he said nothing. "Those guys on the corner were waiting for us."

Keren bit on fear. "What would they have done?"

Ethan frowned. "Nothing, they were there to watch, but that doesn't mean the next time they will stay passive. I need to tell Father."

His breakfast bubbled in his stomach. He kept it down and listened, remembered. Everyone had a skeleton in their closet, and to go against the family was one wrong move from death and a closed door. I need to remember that. I need to play by their rules. Just like everyone else. Just like Ethan. Keren shrank into his shoulders, but jumped when Ethan put his free hand on the closest one.

"You'll be fine, I showed you my safespots," Ethan whispered. "Just remember them, and if you... feel odd, go straight to them and call me. Don't try anything rash... especially not now." His gaze flicked to the front mirror, though the traffic continued behind them.

He bit his tongue until he tasted his own blood.

It ripped down his throat by the time night hit Roxton and the underworld came to life. Once more in the casino's basement, with Chalen holding his old schoolbag, no longer holding his homework or his textbooks — but the package he was supposed to deliver.

"You remember where to take the package kid?" he asked, not unkindly. "You're going to drop this off at one of our safehouses and then come straight back. That's all you have to do for your part."

He placed the bag into his shaking hands, but he steeled his resolve as he came closer to the doorway of the underworld. Ethan leaned beside it, distracted from the way he glared down at his boots. "Ethan?" Keren whispered and threw his bag over his shoulders. "Where's Jesti?"

"Urto told me he swung by the casino, but was apparently on edge," Ethan mumbled. "I'm going to try talking to him while you're out." He slid in front of the door before Keren could take the first, hardest step. "Always watch your back."

Keren reached underneath his arm to push the door open.

"And, Keren, don't get sidetracked. There are a lot of entrances, but use the one I pointed out."

"I can do this, Ethan!" Keren snapped, and his voice echoed down the corridor. "I don't need you coddling me anymore. I'm not a little kid." Because if you do, I won't be respected, and I'll get you killed. Keren glared at his boots, tired of his failures and his weakness — because of his brother's one weakness.

Me. I know I'm weak, you don't have to show me that.

Tears bit at the corners of his eyes, but Ethan remained stalwart. "If you say so," he whispered with a frown. "I'll refrain from coddling you."

It stung. It hurt how easily Ethan stepped aside. And he'll be a victim too if I don't get out of his shadow... he'll get hurt because of me.

Chalen opened his mouth, as if to say something Ethan wouldn't. Keren gave him no chance and rushed into the dark. Little lamps lit up the tunnel, and he opened his wristpad at each bend. Ethan marked his suggestion on his map, but annoyance grappled his throat.

I can do this. I don't even know what's inside, so... it's not like I can get caught. Keren swallowed bile and pushed onward. His shaking nervousness ebbed when the tunnel rounded into a cylinder hall. Okay, down here should be Ethan's entrance. He double-checked the map and studied every corner. But it's still too far from the safehouse I'm supposed to drop this off. I just want to get this over with as fast as possible with no complications.

Keren scrolled through the tunnel system for a more promising head start, right by the marked safehouse. In and out. It's much closer and I can spend less time wandering. He continued further down the tunnels and marked every entrance, including Ethan's, which he strolled past. Bursts of strength filled his heart at the small action of defiance. I'll get stronger, for him. I can do this no matter what they believe.

No matter what he believes.

His legs burned by the time he reached the closest entrance, crawling up the ladder and opening the hatch with his hands. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.

Drop the package. Come back.

Go the way I came.

I can't mess that up.

Assured, Keren breathed out the balloon in his lungs. Out in the open city, but cramped in an alley where the hatch and connected compactor closed when he got off it. Just act normal, Keren. Out of the darkness and into the dim streetlights, few cars zoomed through the neighbourhood he found himself in. Just pretend it's daytime. He peered around corners and half-expected a suited shadow to leap out at him. Apart from the raucous sounds rising from the pub across the street, everything remained silent. Some stores were open, though with few patrons.

Okay. Keren stepped out onto the sidewalk, but every noise sent the same malicious electricity down his spine. No. No. No! Get a grip! You're just panicking. He pressed his hands into his cheeks and continued to breathe. I'm okay. I'm fine. I have weapons in case... in case something happens. I can defend myself. He gripped his hidden holster and continued, but there was no shadow but his own.

Cold air brushed against his brow, for the first time, completely alone. One small piece of freedom, but he followed the chain. Heavier than any schoolbook he once had in his bag. Keren rounded the alley and between a small, broken gap of metal fencing. On the other side of the small square, a rickety metal door which led to a condemned building. Broken signs hung over it, long lost of its neon power. Keren went around the other side to use the window entrance.

Old, moldy boxes filled the corners, but the lack of dust betrayed its use. Okay. Use the chain code to open the secret cache, and then my part is over. Boxes pushed out of the way, he raised his wristpad over the hidden panel. It glittered in response. Words in a chain encryption. He studied it, then typed in the end of the chain winch. It hissed open to reveal an empty black box. Unshouldering the bag, he shuffled through the books Chalen filled it with, grabbing the sinister package out from the bottom to drop it into the black box. The panel closed with a misty hiss, and hid itself among the dusty corners and mold.

I can do this. Keren smiled. I can do this. He sorted through Chalen's books, and made a mental note to read them. Back in the streets, the tension left his shoulders. I'm just a school kid.

Keren reached an alleyway, then pushed the compactor out of the way.

Nothing was there.

Wait. He checked his wristpad, but the tunnel entrances refused to reveal themselves topside, though the blips marked Ethan's safespots, with the nearest one still a jog away. Two. Three. Four—

Keren checked the next alley over and measured the distance of his steps. Quiet sent another bolt of electricity through his spine and the heightened fear taunted him into hasty steps.

It was here—at least, I think it was?

In the distance, the casino lights were the only landmark he recognized, too far away. Way off where he wanted to be. He checked the next compactor with the same result.

I think I got turned around. Maybe I should go back?

Pain choked his throat at Ethan's previous instruction.

"Walk."

Keren froze at the end of the street and found himself lost in his own city. In the dark, everything looked the same.

I'm lost! Ethan thinks I took his entrance!

Shit!