Mark was at a loss for words. He calmly lowered his gun and said, "All of 'em?"
"Y-Yes! All of them." Ivan replied.
"How about a sibling or two?"
"H-He doesn't have any."
"How– no, why do you know this? Damian didn't sound like he knew you before we met you."
"I-I-I can't tell you!"
Mark raised his gun, "You better start talking."
Ivan wore a stern expression, "...If I tell you, you and your family… most likely won't see tomorrow."
Mark backed up a little, "Is-Is that a threat?"
"I warn you. Stay away from Damian Cross. This isn't something you want to get involved in…"
Ivan ran up to Mark and held his hands to prevent him from shooting.
Mark struggled with him, "I'm gonna shoot! Back away!"
"Runaway! Take your family and go as far away as possible! Before it's too late!" Ivan screamed.
"You're… insane. Get… off of me." Mark front kicked Ivan in the abdomen.
Thud! Ivan landed on the floor and writhed in pain.
"What is wrong with you?! Do you want to die?!" Mark shouted, pointing his gun at Ivan's head.
Ivan sat up and said, "I can tell you why David Dolan is following Damian Cross. If you want to know anything else, it'll cost you a great deal."
Mark was about to say something but held his tongue.
…I can't keep acting clueless. Undeniably, I know little to almost nothing about Damian. I'll believe Ivan regarding the seriousness of this situation. No matter what, Karin and Becca's safety is my top priority. I shouldn't butt into something that ain't my business…
"Tell me why David Dolan is following Damian around."
* * *
At the underground sanctuary. Stephanie finished handing out the supplies and went to her father.
"Dad, Damian Cross and Mark aren't back yet. Don't you think they abandoned that boy and ran away?"
David Dolan took a deep breath, "I don't know. Let's just wait and see."
"Dad, you don't know? Everyone's getting antsy. I'm afraid they might wanna use Arthur to get back at Damian. The men he shot are in serious pain."
David Dolan's calm demeanour crumpled, "What?! Have they lost their minds?! A kid?! Show me who exactly thought of that!"
He was about to stand up from the chair but Stephanie stopped him, "Dad, calm down. They know he is just a kid. They just wanted to beat Damian up and use Arthur to threaten him and Mark not to fight back."
"Fools! You have no idea. He was being merciful and I doubt it was on purpose." Everyone's attention was on David Dolan. They wondered who he was talking to.
He stood up and was about to make an announcement but Stephanie held his hand then said, "Why are you still defending him? Why do you know so much about him?"
David Dolan shrugged her hand off then pointed Damian's tent and said aloud,
"Anyone that lays a finger on that kid or that lady and her daughter will have problems with me. Damian Cross shot Rufus and Stuart but as long as they're alive we'll let it slide. No one should offend Damian Cross in any way, to avoid this from happening again."
A woman looking to be in her 30s with fair skin, brown hair and wearing casual clothing spoke up,
"He shot my husband for a soda can! A f*ckin' soda can! He's in so much pain! I respect you very much David, but I'm sorry, I can't forgive him. You're the one that said we could beat him up if we want to."
David Dolan stared at her until the atmosphere started feeling awkward.
He went to the side of his tent and picked up an axe, then went over and handed it over to the woman.
"Uh… Uhm…" She was perplexed.
He removed his leather jacket, leaving him with a white shirt sleeve vest, and raised his left arm to shoulder length.
"I understand Suzie. Take my arm as compensation for the pain your husband is going through. It was selfish of me to tell you to let such a thing slide."
"Dad---"
"Stay where you are, Steph."
"Aunt Suzie, please don't do it!" Stephanie pleaded.
All eyes were on Suzie. She had known David Dolan for years since she and his wife were best friends.
…He's kidding, isn't he? Does he really want his hand to be chopped off? She knew him to be uncomic, so why would he joke about such a serious issue?
"Damn you, David. "
She handed the axe back to David Dolan.
He turned to walk away but halted then turned back slightly and said, "Since they're alive, WE WILL let it slide."
His words sent a chill down Suzie's spine. Others might not have noticed but she saw the look in his eyes as he spoke. She felt immense fear.
Rachael, who watched as everything unfolded, was awe-struck. She figured out why David Dolan called the shots.
…I can't tell if he's being brave or manipulative. As their leader, he wants to avoid conflict at all costs, although his actions were cringe-worthy. Hmm… but why is he afraid of Mr. Cross so much?
* * *
A 6'3 man wearing rectangular glasses with black hair and fair skin stood in an empty room with no door or windows.
The walls and tiles were black and the only source of light was a bulb right above him.
He looked up to see the source of light but saw the moon. When he looked back down, he was in the middle of an empty street.
The street lights in front of him turned on in succession.
At the street light, there was a boy with greyish skin and dark blue hair, so dark it could be mistaken for black, wearing a backpack.
He started running down the street and the tall man followed suit, calling out to the boy.
The man chased after the boy and soon noticed that the street lights grew dimmer the further he went but he didn't stop.
He chased the boy until the light became so dim he relied on the moon.
Suddenly, the boy vanished, making the man double his speed.
Immediately he got to where the boy vanished, the light became a bit brighter then he realized he was at the edge of a cliff. Due to inertia, he couldn't stop himself from falling.
He could see the bottom of the cliff and he grew nearer to it by the second.
As he was about to hit the ground a voice he recognised repeated familiar words, "Your soul isn't yours to sell."
…
Damian woke up with a gasp. This same dream again…
Argh… He tried sitting up but the pains he felt in his chest and back and the aches in his head were too great.
He looked down and saw his chest and upper abdomen was covered in bandages.
He raised his hand to his chest and used [Demotion] to ease the pain, then he sat up straight albeit with great difficulty.
Melissa, who went away briefly, came back to look after Damian and saw him sitting up and trying to come down from the table.
…How is he awake? She rushed and held him, "Calm down, sir. You need to rest. You're badly hurt."
"Get your hands off of me. I'm f--" Damian stopped as he saw who he was talking to.
"You…" He recognised her face but couldn't remember who she was.
Melissa smiled and said, "At first I wasn't sure if it was really you because you didn't wear glasses…
"Long time no see, Damian. You've grown to be a fine young man." Melissa was almost moved to tears.