“It seems that our battle is done. The bottleneck worked.” Alexi couldn’t quite believe that the pn went through to completion. With cases like these, usually there are complications that go along with it – either intellectual or emotional. He gets a confirming nod by Carlos, he reaches down to his belt to snag his radio and receiver, pcing them near his jaw. “Can I get confirmation, please?”

  “Yes, Mr. Alexi, the desired outcome has been achieved.”

  “Good, have any other entities emerged or threatened to?” Alexi carries through with his questions.

  “They were dealt with – we made sure to close it properly this time. Have you done a count?”

  Carlos knows that Alexi can handle the rest of the process rather easily. His focus is getting to those rotten kids – and taking in the scene left behind by the Red Queen. The clean-up is going to be fucking expensive and there’s no telling if the prison riot angle is even going to be conceivable with how much damage has been caused. It’s going to end up on the news eventually; the reporters will start digging their nose in. They always do.

  “You better tell them it’ll take a while, Alexi.” Carlos walks through the main door.

  The casualties will be high; this prison is holding ten thousand prisoners from all different walks of life. It didn’t matter to the Red Queen what these people went through, they were guilty for just being here. A bck and white view that kills hundreds, if not thousands – the amount of paperwork is immense, but the damages will stick for a long while in his memories.

  -

  Vukosava couldn’t believe that the fight was over. The pn went about as well as it could – but there’s still so many dead. The blood goes from floor to ceiling, the gore hangs from the bars, it’s like staring into hell. If hell is woven from the remains of the living. The empty, gssy eyes of the prisoners stare into her soul – why should she be alive after all of this? Why do their families suffer for mistakes that she made? These people have gone through so much, they couldn’t fall under the same category as the Eternal Prince. They didn’t turn the innocent into paint for a canvas; these were normal people. Whatever crimes they did, this isn’t right.

  John walks up to her. “Come here.”

  He throws his arms around Vukosava, holding her close as she processes everything.

  “We did so many horrible things.”

  “I know, I know.” He’s patting her gently on the back. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Harley, Nathen, James and Amber start walking towards them.

  “Are we actually alive?” James asks. “Is this purgatory?”

  “I can’t believe I’m saying this –I’m carrying all of this to my grave.” Harley isn’t snappy or angry; there’s a solemness to her words. “I could pce down roses for the rest of my life, and it wouldn’t match what happened here.”

  “Maybe it wouldn’t – but the thought is there.” Amber says quietly. “Can we please go?”

  The group enters together, trying to put on a brave face as Carlos walks in on them.

  “You are some lucky fuckers.” He folds his arms. “Though luck is a cruel mistress, isn’t it?”

  “In more ways than one.” John swallows deeply, his eyes growing weary. The adrenaline from earlier is rapidly disappearing, his strength fading with each and every step he takes. This weight is different from a physical one, it’s soul-crushing. “How will you spin this one?”

  “That’s not for you to know, boy.” Carlos grumbles. “I’m going to be the one that deals with it.”

  “We’re sorry.” Vukosava says simply.

  “We all have a part in this fuck up. I’m going to be making a count; you don’t want to be here for that. It’s not a pleasant process.” There’s a level of concern in his voice, despite his screaming and yelling, he’s a man. Perhaps a good one at that, Vukosava thought. “You’ll be happy to know that the Queen and her knight are gone. They went back to their bloody court.”

  “So, the portal was sealed?” James asks.

  “Yes. This war is over – for now.” Carlos looks down at their shoes. “You’ll need to throw those out.”

  “Do you need our help?” Nathen asks neutrally.

  “What do you think?”

  Vukosava nods to John, with that confirming nod they make their way out of Kingsgrove. Alexi gives them a once over. “I suggest you head home and wash it all away. I have some additional clothes that you can use – consider it a thanks for what you did. We’ll be in contact with you one way or another.”

  -

  Alexi enters Kingsgrove proper, leaving the group to sort out the clothing issue in private. He can see Carlos milling about.

  “Do you have an estimation?”

  “Over half. The other prisoners and staff are scared shitless. They’re trying to rationalise what the hell went down. You got any other info, Alexi?”

  “A powerful ward has been pced over Duskenveil, the entirety of the ancient city has been pced under the jurisdiction of the state, the Bureau has decided to pce more emphasis and focus on the courtly realms. They’ll be monitoring the sight on strict and impervious rotations, making sure that no other YouTubers or other suspicious individuals make their way onto the grounds. In addition, the wards and protective seals will be reinforced constantly, exorcisms and other purification methods will be implemented in full.” Alexi pauses for a moment; he’s looking at Carlos who remains as rigid as a statue. “Do you find this disagreeable?”

  “You know me better than that, Alexi. It’s what should’ve been done from the start.”

  “The State Team has been transferred to our leadership. They’ve been kept well informed of everything that has occurred over the st few months. The increased hauntings and events, the disappearances that occurred during the freak weather event, the prison transfers, everything.”

  “So, that’s the gamepn?” Carlos remarks coldly. “The prisoners were reallocated.”

  “This is different from the weather event; people often do go missing during cyclones and hurricanes. It’s a consistent component.” Alexi presses on firmly.

  “Those young pricks know this isn’t over, not by a longshot.” Carlos can hear other vehicles pulling into the prison, the cleaning crews, ready to sweep everything under the rug. “Sooner or ter, they’ll need to be directly involved.”

  “You think we’ll need them that badly?”

  “They helped us to deal with this threat, as much as it pains me to admit it – if they weren’t here giving the Red Queen some trouble, it would’ve been a lot worse. They’d be no survivors and who’s to say that the guards and the officials on these grounds would live any longer than them. This fucking morality of that Red entity caused all of this.” Carlos carries on bitterly, as the cleaning crews move past them in solidarity, churning and powering away the blood and gore. The people that went through this ordeal will be hard to control – mouths can get pretty loose after a while. “We don’t know who else managed to cross through the portal, but I know one thing for certain, all this death, all this negative bullshit is going to be converted into power. With that power, they’ll be an even bigger mess on our hands. It’s not a case of how, it’s a case of when.”

  “Your intuition remains as sharp as ever.” Carlos can hear the pressure hoses humming, the motors giving a rhythmic chant. “This raises another question, an important one at that.”

  “Well, Alexi, go ahead and fucking say it.”

  “Should they be trained?”

  “You think I’ll be teaching those brats anything? Have you lost your mind?”

  “I think we have to look at this rationally. The two of us had to direct our focus on Sir Victor Alberius. He was a challenging opponent – if it wasn’t for those brats, we would’ve lost the whole prison.” Alexi extends his hand around the cellblock. “If we’re going to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself – we have to use whatever resources we have on hand to do it. Even if that includes having their help.”

  “Those kiddies are not ready for it – they’ve only gotten a glimpse.” Carlos couldn’t stand the idea of training them, it’s not just because they’re brats, it’s the personal costs that go along with it. Their exposure to the elements will increase and with that condition – they’ll suffer greatly for it. Carlos is a soldier, and no one gets to see the things he dreams of.

  Alexi pauses for a moment. “I know why you’re so reluctant, Carlos. If they are to join us, there’s no going back.”

  “I say we give them a break for now – those bastards have earned it. If some other incident happens, then we’ll start talking with them.” With that agreement in pce, they start to help with the cover-up process.

  -

  “It’s crazy that we got these things.” Harley shakes her head. “I never believed we’d be wrapped up in such a big thing.”

  “If my teachers told me that one day I’d end up in a mess like this because of my passion, I’d ugh in their face. I suppose they can ugh at me now.” John remarks hollowly.

  “So, what’s the big pn now, we just head home?” James casts his eyes around the group, seeing the same weary eyes staring back at him. “I feel like I’ve been run over by a tractor, and the farm animals followed.”

  Nathen shakes his head. “I think there’s one thing that we have to do.”

  “What would that be?” Harley asks.

  “Celebrate.” Nathen answers simply.

  “After all of that, you want to celebrate?” James starts. “You’re crazy.”

  “For once, I’m feeling sane. We did something incredible; we survived that mess.” Nathen is appealing to them all, and deep down he’s right. If they can’t celebrate something like this – then there’s no hope for them at all. It’s like the dams breaking open, the water spilling and crashing over the surf and rocks, the tension rolling over everything in sight.