{{Unedited}} Everyone filed out of the room, leaving Vincent, Marielle, and Austin alone. Austin leaned over the back of the couch to stretch his back; fingers laced behind his head. “I need to talk to him,” Marielle explained to Vincent in a low voice. “Please let me?” she asked. Vincent looked down, sadly. “I don’t …

{{Unedited}} Vincent had been silent for a long time with his face in his hands as he rubbed his temples, removed his glasses, and put them onto the desk, and then put his face back into his hands again. Marielle was laying on her side watching him from the bed; silent tears were streaming from …

{{Unedited}} Austin had already pushed her out of the way, and presently, Marielle was on her knees and trying to stand. He yanked her up, but she was amazed to see that he’d already drawn his pistol and was aiming down the sights toward the bullets point of release. He put her behind him and …

{{Unedited}} It was a little hole in the wall place that Marielle was certain was run by the mob based on the big guy with huge shoulders at the door. The walls were deep red, the lights were low, and there were real candles on the tables. The table she and Austin sat at was …

{{Unedited}} Valorant was supposed to be a quick stop to refamiliarize everyone with the base- not much more than a warehouse with an office room containing flickering fluorescent lights, and a few rodents and spiders that had to be cleared out; it had been a while since anyone had actually seen this place, a few …

{{Unedited}} The seatbelt light dinged off, and she flew out of the seat like it was on fire, heading towards the bathroom, and closing herself in. She sat on the closed toilet and buried her face in her hands as she rocked. Her skin felt like it was on fire again.  You’re falling in love …

{{Unedited}} During the first three-hour stretch, Marielle had fallen asleep on his shoulder, and Vincent was glad. The one pain injection that he could give her wouldn’t do much to alleviate her suffering, and it was probably close to wearing off now. The longer that she slept, the more she wouldn’t be bothered by the …

{{Unedited}}   The only person who just barely made it onto the plane was Austin. He sprinted to the door about one minute from it closing for good. “Nice of you to join us,” Liam growled, from the doorway to the loading bridge. Austin said nothing, and Liam led him down and onto the plane. …

{{Unedited}}   Marielle went into the training room where another round of games was wrapping up. Vincent was watching as he had previously from the balcony. In the arena was Tala, Liam, Hazal, Mateo, and Wei Ling. Mateo looked shaken, and was throwing glances at Hazal. Marielle had no idea what they’d been through, but …

{{Unedited}}   More than a week had passed and everyone was on edge as October changed the calendars all over Valorant. Vincent had switched and rotated everyone in the training room a few times so everyone got a chance to run the game, times, and use their abilities in scenarios that Liam, Vincent, and Wei …