The city remained silent, standing ever still beneath the hexagon dome.
Its regular functions ceased their operations as the gears cranked and churned at their own rhythm.
Clocks ticked in different timed intervals as the citizens and soldiers remained collapsed like broken machinery.
Jean continued walking through the night sky, stepping across the thin yellow barriers.
I need to hurry and support—
A shining—
Sun.
Erupted near the central clock tower.
Jean's face—
Tightened.
As her veins surged with a yellow light.
She began sprinting across the yellow platforms, moving quickly towards the explosion.
Her finger tapped her earpiece as the night sky returned above her.
"Hello…come in."
Only static responded.
Jean lowered her hand as she hurried over to the fifth level of the city.
Stay safe…everyone.
…
Footsteps tapped along the marble pathways of the city.
A large cut ran along the ground, stretching towards the central clock tower.
Art continued to limo through the silent streets, glancing around at the collapsed civilians.
This is what the suppressant did.
Her eyes followed the cut, watching it move underneath buildings and people.
They were—
Unharmed.
As only the ground was cut.
Art's breathing staggered as pain ran through her body.
She could even do this…
Her pupils—
Narrowed.
…there's no chance against her.
The night sky persisted above, shining its silver light on the land below.
Art inched closer to the tower, moving along the cut line.
A bright—
Sun.
Erupted near the clock tower.
She squinted her eyes as she continued onward.
I should try and hurry.
Art's speed couldn't increase as she kept herself conscious moving towards the light.
The night sky—
Returned.
As she kept moving.
…
The courtyard surrounding the lone tower was illuminated by tall fluorescent lights.
Silence filled the space as the mechanical figures were all shut down.
Arthur had continued moving towards the entrance.
His stride—
Paused.
As the sound of clicking heels.
Arthur's grip—
Tightened.
As his gaze focused before him.
Selena reclined her hands in her pocket as she moved down the limestone steps.
"No need to be weary. We were once colleagues after all."
Arthur's eyebrows furrowed.
"You're not getting involved?"
Selena exhaled through her nose, clicking her heels towards him.
"Experiment 05…is drawing near completion."
Arthur's eyes narrowed as he glanced at her.
"What are you implying?"
Selean's stride—
Paused.
As she stood next to Arthur.
Their shoulders—
Aligned.
As she removed a silver pocket watch.
"That little promise of yours…was never going to stop it."
Arthur's jaw tightened.
"You saw what was happening yet you still did nothing."
Selena's tongue glided across her lips.
"I seek results…you seek justice."
Arthur's scarlet mantle flowed in the passing breeze.
His voice—
Lowered.
As it subtly shook.
"Can it be stopped?"
Selena pressed her thumb into the small pin, revealing the front of the watch.
"That endpoint…"
The clock hands—
Ticked.
Moving in sync with the passing time.
"...can no longer be prevented."
Arthur's eyes lowered to the ground before him.
"I see."
Selena closed the stopwatch, placing it in her pocket.
"Our time for this conversation is finished…"
Her heels began clicking, moving away from Arthur.
"...after all he's waiting for you."
Arthur stood—
Still.
As his jaw tightened.
The clicking of the heels grew distant as Arthur fixed his gaze before him.
Moonlight rested upon his shoulders as footsteps approached.
A violet—
Light.
Flickered in the air before him.
Marco stood across from him, resting a blade in his left hand.
His mantle—
Flowed.
Covering his right side.
Arthur's mantle—
Flowed.
Covering his left side.
…
A heavy breathing sounded from her lips as she descended to the courtyard grounds.
The limestone around the training area was cracked and singed from a previous battle.
Jean's footsteps planed out as she walked towards the open area.
Where are—
Her stride—
Stopped.
As her hand slowly raised to her lips.
A bolt—
Shifted.
On the ground before her.
Jean's hand shook as she looked around the area.
It can't be.
Malachi's cold body lay on the ground, having been separated from his head.
Piles of burnt chunks were spread out across the dried blood.
Jean's eyes—
Lowered.
As her fist clenched.
I should've been here…
She closed her eyelids, exhaling through her nose.
…but there's nothing I can do now.
The yellow glow in her veins flickered as she kept walking towards the tower.
A final—
Glance.
Shifted over her shoulder.
She watched a singular bolt remain still.
A heel—
Clicked.
On the stone in front.
Jean's attention shifted towards the area before her, as she lifted her hands up.
Selena's walk paused beneath the fluorescent light as she fixed her black and gold lab coat.
"There will be no interference."
Jean's veins lit up with a yellow light.
"With what exactly?"
Selena motioned her hand out towards her.
"Are you worth experimenting on?"
Jean's head twitched in confusion.
"I don't understand."
Selena sighed as her veins surged with a black light.
"The answer is no…so if you'll excuse me."
She began walking towards Jean, slowly clicking her heels on the limestone.
Jean's fists—
Slammed.
Punching them together.
A barrier—
Formed.
Stopping Selena from moving.
Selena shook her head, tapping her finger on the yellow wall.
"Will you remove this…I'm trying to collect something interesting."
Jean's fists—
Stayed.
Holding the barrier up.
"I refuse."
A faint smile slowly formed on Selena's lips.
I thought so…
Her views persisted with the black glow, forming a large cobweb at her back.
Strands of web attached the the backs of her feet, keeping Selena attached to the web.
Strings formed from the rows of webs stretching down to her fingers, wrapping around them like wrings.
They stayed—
Attracted.
To the central cobweb.
…Veera has rubbed off on me.
Selena flicked her pointer finger forward.
Droplets of dew formed on the cobweb.
Strands—
Formed.
Bursting from the black liquid.
Their path—
Curved.
Shooting past the yellow barrier.
Jean leapt back, punching her fists together.
A yellow wall—
Appeared.
Splitting the strings on contact.
Selena watched the barrier dissipate as her finger rested on her chin.
Interesting…the barriers only form and move with her hands.
Her tongue—
Glided.
Across her lips.
Jean dashed forward, moving from behind the barrier.
Selena curled her middle and ring finger, twisting the blocked strands together.
Their attack—
Continued.
Flying in from two sides.
Jean opened her palms, holding them towards the strands.
Smaller barriers formed before her hands, blocking the attack as she continued forward.
Her stance—
Dropped.
As she clenched her fist.
Jean pressed it into the palm of her other hand.
A horizontal wall—
Manifested.
Launching towards Selena.
Selena moved her pointer fingers forming an x-shaped block with her webs.
The sharp edges of the new barrier, sliced through the two strands.
She remained—
Calm.
As the barrier was right before her.
Her hand—
Raised.
Lifting all the attached strings.
Webs formed from all angles, sticking themselves onto the flat wall.
It's movement—
Stopped.
As Jean's hands shook.
Selena flicked her other hand, bending the strands attached to the wall.
The webs—
Bent.
Slinging the wall back towards Jean.
Jean exhaled, separating her hands as she straightened her posture.
The barrier—
Dissipated.
Before getting close to her.
Her gaze—
Focused.
She's good…I'll need to get close.
Selena continued to observe her opponent, slowly raising her hands.
The barriers are only maintained with the hands together.
Jean clicked her glasses, looking at the heels on Selena's feet.
It seems she's locked in place with that holo-web.
Selena's hands—
Swayed.
As if she was conducting a choir.
The ground—
Shattered.
Breaking all around Jean's feet.
Thick spikes, formed from the twisted ends of strands, burst out at random intervals.
Jean lowered her stance, weaving through the forest of spikes.
A dew—
Formed.
Flowing down one side.
Jean's shoulder—
Pierced.
By a growing web.
She turned her attention towards the spikes around her, watching the dew begin to bubble.
Jean placed her palms together, creating a box of barriers around her.
The strands—
Burst.
Slamming into the yellow walls.
Selena's eyes narrowed, looking to the place of the strike.
She's gone…
A drop of dew flowed into her skin, moving from the web behind her.
…oh, I see.
Her hand—
Swiped.
Moving horizontally in front of her.
The strands—
Chased.
Shooting into the air.
Jean watched the strands follow her as she moved along creating barriers.
How can she see me?
She continued running through the air, holding her palms together.
Jean's jaw—
Tightened.
As she separated her hands.
The walls enclosing her disappeared, revealing her figure in the air.
Selena continued curling her fingers, guiding the webs towards her.
Jean was—
Surrounded.
Having no means of escape.
The barrier she was standing on disappeared, dropping her towards the ground below.
The webs—
Persisted.
Chasing her on the way down.
Jean pressed an open palm into the air, kicking off the platform to dodge.
Strands crashed into the ground as Jean rolled to her feet, looking towards the smoke before her.
Selena's attack—
Continued.
As webs burst through the dust cloud.
Jean pressed her fist into her palm.
Sharp walls—
Formed.
Orbiting around her body.
The webs—
Sliced.
As they dissipated into black light.
Selena's conditioning continued as she waved her hands, sporting more large spikes of web from the ground.
Jean's breathing became elevated as blood ran down her left arm.
I can't get close.
She continued to dodge, placing her palms together to form a barricade.
A strand—
Immerged.
Slamming into the yellow barrier.
Jean was forced into the air, grabbing onto the ledge of a created barrier.
Selean's hands—
Paused.
As Jean pulled herself up.
What's she—
Her hands—
Clasped.
The ground—
Cracked.
A strand—
Condensed.
Bursting from a single point.
Layers of webs twisted onto the thin ending of the black holo-web as it collided with the barrier below her feet.
The wall—
Shattered.
Jean turned her torso a second late as she fell towards the ground.
Her abdomen—
Slashed.
Cut in a diagonal line.
She tumbled onto the ground, rolling back into a nearby pipe.
The webs accelerate?
Jean's hand covered the open wound, looking down at the shallow cut.
It's not…deep?
Selena—
Smiled.
Looking towards Jean.
The wound—
Festered.
Sprouting a series of black veins.
Their pathways stretched to the skin around it, sending pulses of black light into Jean's glowing veins.
Selena reached into her pocket, removing the silver stopwatch.
Her thumb flicked open the front panel as she watched the little hand move around the clock.
"Neurotoxin induced in an active female human acts in three minutes."
Selena closed the watch, placing it in her lab coat pocket.
Jean's breath staggered as she moved to her feet, supporting herself with the large pipe.
Her vision began to blur.
That's not enough time.
Selena curled two fingers, bubbling two droplets of dew on the cobweb behind her.
Webbed strands—
Formed.
Shooting towards Jean.
Jean dove out of the way, rolling across the ground as the first strand slammed into the metal pipe.
The metal—
Burst.
Revealing an empty tunnel.
Jean held an open palm before her, forming a smaller barrier.
Her head—
Pulsed.
With a sharp pain.
The barrier—
Shook.
Slightly lowering below her hand.
Selena moved her middle finger, shifting the trajectory of the second strand.
The web—
Encroached.
Flying towards her arm.
Jean couldn't—
Dodge.
I—
…
The fourth level of the city, filled with the stillness of collapsed soldiers.
Mechanical figures halted at their stations, no longer moving to their functions.
Art had continued limping, almost reaching the entrance lift to the central tower.
Her eyes—
Paused.
On a collapsed soldier.
It's the only option.
She moved over, unholstering the long pistol from his waist.
Art placed the barrel on the ground, pulling the magazine out like a filing cabinet.
Good…a full magazine.
She slammed her hand into the back, setting the ammo in place.
Her stride continued, reaching the stationary lift.
I'm sure this still works.
Art pressed the switch forward, turning the large handle in the center.
The lift—
Rose.
Slowly churning across rows of gears.
It stopped at the edge of the fifth floor, releasing the pressure in its compression pipes.
A gate slid open, revealing a straight pathway towards the wall before her.
Art moved down the smooth stone path, looking at the evenly spaced lights along the sides.
I've never been here before.
She continued to limp, feeling the pain in her left arm with each passing step.
An open gate sat at the end of the path, connected to the other side in a clockwise fashion.
Art stepped through as her veins pulsed with a faint white light.
Why is everything clock based?
Her surroundings—
Blinked.
In different white outlines.
There…Jean's currently fighting?
Art began limping towards the center courtyard moving in the direction of the clock tower entrance.
Her eyes—
Shifted.
Looking towards the clock's face.
It was—
Distant.
Distorted.
Like it was detached from time itself.
She shook her head, limping towards Jean.
I can worry about that later…Iv'e got to help Jean.
Art had—
Tripped.
Falling over a small piece of metal.
What was…
Her body filled with intense pain as she contacted the stone ground.
Art glanced at her feet.
…that—
Her eyes—
Widened.
A bolt—
Rested.
Beneath her heel.
Art grit her teeth as she slowly turned forward.
I'm too late…
She struggled to her feet, starting her limp towards Jean.
…but I can still prevent another loss.
…
The webbed strands persisted in their assault on Jean, piercing towards her left arm.
She couldn't—
Dodge.
As the webs almost made contact.
The strands—
Dissipated.
From a small hole.
Two gunshots rang across the quiet courtyard.
Jean glanced towards the direction of the noise, subtly smiling.
A blurred figure stood at a distance from her.
"Thanks…Art."
Art knelt on the ground, propping the long pistol on her knee.
"Focus."
Selena's tongue clicked as she looked at the kneeling person.
Variables are to be expected…but are always annoying.
Jean wobbled to her feet, keeping her gaze on Selena.
"I need to get close."
Art turned the guard's pistol in her direction.
"I've got your cover."
Jean's knees began to wobble as she lowered her stance.
Art glanced over at her before returning towards Selena.
She's not doing good…is it that cut on her stomach?
Selena's tongue glided across her lips as she curled her fingers.
Droplets of dew formed on the large holo-cobweb behind her.
Webs stitched together, forming a connected network above her head.
Strands—
Shot.
Raining in from high angles.
Jean opened her hands, as if she was carrying a tray of food.
Thin barriers—
Reflected.
Bouncing the webs off their surface.
Art squeezed the trigger shooting two strands, launching towards Jean's back.
I've got six shots left.
The veins around her right eye flickered with a white light.
Jean continued advancing, weaving through the raining webs.
Selena's attention—
Turned.
Looking towards Art.
The barrier girl is slow…so she can wait.
The strands changed their target as Selena's fingers curled, raining down at Art.
She couldn't—
Move.
Art began—
Shooting.
Hitting each of the webs.
Jean glanced back as she continued towards Selena.
Her legs—
Tensed.
As she pushed herself further.
I have to hurry.
Art rapidly squeezed the trigger sending the remaining bullet casings to the ground next to her.
I got them all—
The ground—
Broke.
A strand—
Shot.
Hooking into her right eye.
Its path continued, holding the eye up towards the night's sky.
Art fell to her side, wincing in pain.
Her vision—
Blurred.
As she looked towards Jean.
Jean's jaw—
Tightened.
As she formed a new barrier.
She kicked off, jumping in the air behind Selena.
Her plan—
Opened.
A barrier—
Stopped.
From forming.
Dew formed from the cobweb, bubbling new strands towards Jean's arm.
They caught it, wrapping around the entire arm as it stopped before the shoulder.
Selena's head—
Tilted.
As she looked over her shoulder.
Her hand—
Raised.
Lifting Jean higher into the air.
Dew droplets formed along the webs, burning Jean's skin like acid.
Selena's lips—
Parted.
"Three minutes have already passed."
Her hand—
Clenched.
The webs—
Tightened.
Jean screamed in pain as he bones began to shatter under the pressure.
The webs began to pull away from the shoulder, ripping the flesh from her muscles.
Jean was—
Dropped.
Hitting the hard limestone ground.
Her yellow glow—
Flickered.
As blood pooled around her.
The arm—
Stayed.
Wrapped in the tight cocoon.
Selena sighed, lowering her hand to release the torn body part.
It flopped to the ground, rolling away from Jean's body.
She reached into her lab coat, pulling out the silver pocketwatch.
Her thumb pressed into the small latch opening the back of the case.
The gears—
Churned.
All out of sync.
The ticking—
Stopped.
As time continued to pass.
The cobweb—
Vibrated.
She raised her thumb, wiping her lips clean as the cobweb slowly curled towards her.
A smile—
Crept.
Moving up her face.
"The results…"
A black—
Cocoon.
Closed in around her.
Her eye—
Fixed.
On the clock tower's face.
"...are ready."
The cocoon—
Closed.
Her webs—
Dissipated.
Leaving the space empty.
Selena was—
Gone.
Art slowly crawled across the ground heading towards Jean.
Please…Please let me make it in time.
Blood ran down her cheek, moving opposite of the large handprint.
Her vision—
Half.
Of what it used to be.
Her hand—
Reached.
Touching Jean's torn shoulder.
Art pulled herself close before reaching into her waist pouch behind her.
She removed a small box pressing the button on the side.
A needle—
Extended.
From the box's base.
Art stabbed the wound, flicking the switch on the top.
A cold liquid poured out from the small clear opening in the box, freezing the open wound.
The bleeding—
Stopped.
As Art watched the flesh ice over.
She's alive…Tremor makes some good gadgets.
Art sighed with relief as she fell forward, laying on the ground next to Jean.
Her hand pressed into the limestone, turning her over on to her back.
The flickering stars of the night sky rested above her.
Who was that woman…and what did she mean with the result?
The moon slowly drifted past its peak, moving in its normal night cycle.
Her eyelids—
Closed.
It's almost…
Art's breathing—
Slowed.
As she passed out on the ground.
…over.