The wind carried desert sand into the vehicle. The trio had left the remains of the city some time ago. Naomi drove with her partner beside her, and Livya followed behind, sitting and curled up in the corner.
No one had spoken since they heard Grande Irmão's message. The sounds of crushed bones mixed with the frenzy and madness of the voices around them didn't leave any of their minds. Gabriel felt guilty for not staying with the others until the end, even knowing what would have awaited him.
Livya, curled up, gripped her forearms so tightly that her fingers turned white. Her eyes were red, but unlike what many would think, it wasn't from the pain—it was from the anger of having abandoned the three behind. The words came forcefully from her mouth:
— Cowards.
Naomi slammed on the brakes, and a cloud of sand rose as the tires skidded. She ran a hand over her face to regain control, responding to the other:
— We weren't cowards. We're completing the mission.
— We left the others to die?! Letting Michel die?!
— We're Crows, and we have the duty to protect our city. They gave us time to get help.
— You don't know how I feel!
Gabriel saw Naomi turn to the other one, on the brink of hysteria. It was clear to see the veins in her neck pulsing.
— I lost three dear people today, girl. So shut your mouth. I know exactly what you're feeling, and I guarantee I've felt it many times. So don't use your mourning to say this crap.
— Naomi – Gabriel intervened, placing a hand on her shoulder. – Calm down, she has no idea what we've been through. And you, Livya, I know you're full of rage, I am too, so use every bit of it on the people who deserve it.
The rookie apparently regained some control, looking a bit ashamed. She released her arms and sat normally. It was clear what she felt, from the murderous glint in her eyes.
— Sorry, Naomi – she said sincerely. – You're right. Let's complete this mission. I just ask one thing: leave Little Sister for me.
Naomi relaxed and grabbed the wheel as she sped up, raising more sand and giving a slight skid. The Crow noticed that she agreed with the other's request, but had her doubts. The ease with which Little Sister had killed Samuel, a veteran, even when wounded, was abnormal. She didn't think Livya would handle it, but kept those thoughts to herself.
— Are we going back home? – Naomi asked.
— I thought we were already headed there – Livya said.
— I just remembered something. – Gabriel shifted in his seat. – Hylari said that another Grave was suffering too because of the drug. If we can learn more...
— So back to the Oasis? – Naomi asked, looking at her partner.
— Yes – he said, determined. – And if we can't get anything, at least we'll be able to rest a little. The road to our city is long.
They all agreed with the idea, and so Naomi headed towards the desert city. The sun was already shining in the daylight sky, but it was still very early. The young man smelled the unpleasant scent of blood and dried sweat on his clothes, and the others weren't much better.
Then he remembered something and reached for the place where he always kept his regular knife. He didn't feel it in the sheath strapped to his thigh. He hadn't recovered it from his victim's stomach earlier. Will would give him hell for this mistake, if he saw him again.
— Did they know about us? – Livya asked, waving one of her hands against the wind from the window. – That we were going to attack?
The driver couldn't give a definitive answer. They were only theories she had been developing during the journey. She realized the guy next to her had no answer either. She told the other:
— I can't say for sure, but we've probably been watched since the subway explosion.
Livya placed a hand on the long scar from that place, feeling the swollen, red bump, but at least it didn't hurt as much as before. The long white line was already peeling in some places.
— We were purposely lured into the factory – Gabriel continued. – They left a relatively small number of people to deceive us. We fell for it like idiots.
— But at least we know their numbers are much greater than we expected. – Naomi added. – There's no way just six people could handle it.
The atmosphere in the vehicle grew heavier due to the number of Crows they had just encountered a few hours ago. All the madness of the voices through the amplifier still haunted the Crow's thoughts; those people were obsessed with the man. People like that were the most dangerous.
A hidden stone beneath the sand caused the car to jump. The young man's wounds hurt from that. He slid his hand across the stitches and felt the inflamed, hot flesh. He grabbed his unloaded weapon and slowly filled the four bullet compartments, storing it away and then feeling his ammunition belt, realizing there was less than half left.
In the horizon, the fence that prevented anyone from entering the Stain was already visible. They were getting closer, and it wouldn't be long before the stream of water appeared cutting through the sand.
Livya rested her head against the window, letting the wind hit her face directly. She didn't mind the sand sticking to her hair; she just allowed herself to enjoy the air that slowly became humid. It was almost ironic that they were returning to the Oasis. When they left only two days ago, they were so different, now they seemed deplorable.
— I stink – Gabriel commented, sniffing his torn shirt, with pieces soaked in blood.
The rookie didn't say anything because she knew she was in a similar state, with torn pants and one leg practically exposed where the spider had attacked her, but Gabriel's condition was definitely the worst. His shirt was a rag, not to mention the red nose.
Only Naomi remained the same, except for the dust and blood splatters that Livya knew weren't hers. A loud noise pulled the young woman from her thoughts, making her look forward.
Gabriel was sharpening his short sword with a sharpening stone, repeating the process almost in a trance. Pieces of iron and dried blood flakes fell directly into his lap, which he didn't seem to mind.
— I lost my knife – the young man announced.
— Which one? – Naomi asked, indifferent to the sound of metal being sharpened.
— The regular one.
— That's why Will gets angry with you.
— I know that – he replied indifferently. – Do you want me to sharpen your weapon?
— I'll do it.
— Your choice. – He turned to the young woman in the back seat. – Want me to do it for you, or do you prefer to borrow the stone?
Livya was tempted to let the others take care of it but decided to follow Naomi's example and take care of her own weapon. Not that it needed much, after all, she hadn't used it since the subway.
— If you can lend it to me, I'd appreciate it.
The Crow handed the broken black stone, worn from use, to the other, who took out her hatchet, smoothing the nearly perfect edge, but sharpening it anyway.
As the rookie focused on her weapon, Naomi was already driving close to the crystal-clear stream. Seeing all that water, she realized how thirsty she was. The stream continued ahead, disappearing into the distance, but it was possible to see the Oasis, which from where they were, looked like a hill.
People were looking at the vehicle. The closer they got, the more heads followed the car with curious eyes. A caravan was leaving the entrance of the Oasis while another waited for its turn. Naomi drove until they reached where the vehicles were stored outside.
A short man saw them enter. About to protest the intrusion, he realized they were Crows. The vehicle stopped near a red cart.
Gabriel felt relieved, stretching his legs again, and the same went for the two women. They left the parking lot and walked alongside the stone wall, hearing the sound of water flowing, even though it was faint.
There they were again, at the entrance of the Oasis, busy with all kinds of people and products, who had no idea what the trio had been through up until that moment. Naomi led the way, heading straight for a house that seemed to sell freshly made fruit juice, leaving the other two behind.
— How do you manage it? – Livya broke the silence.
— What? – the young man responded.
— Acting as if nothing had happened.
Gabriel's eyes wandered somewhere beyond, accompanied by a sad smile that formed on his lips. He understood the other's bewilderment and responded:
— A long time ago, someone told me something about being a Raven. Want to hear it? — Seeing the other person nod, he continued — You get used to it. Yes, I know it's cruel to say that, but one day, every Raven understands those words.
People passed by, staring at the duo with curiosity, which wasn't surprising since two people covered in blood and torn clothes would catch anyone's attention. Livya processed the other's words while watching Naomi finish her third glass, filled with yellow liquid.
— You did well staying quiet when Naomi lost her patience earlier — Gabriel added.
— She scared me.
— Ah, I couldn't have put it better.
After finishing the fourth glass, Naomi paid the vendor and went back out onto the crowded street. It was easy to spot the two; they stood out, even in the throng of people coming together. They walked into one of the alleys to plan their next steps.
— Hylari must know we've arrived by now — Naomi stated.
— Yes — Livya agreed.
— This will make things easier — Gabriel added. — I'll talk to her.
— I'm going with you — Naomi protested, and by the novice's reaction, she shared the same opinion.
— Sometimes you seem to forget, Naomi. I'm an Infiltrator, talking is what I do.
They exchanged glances but eventually gave in easily, making it clear to Gabriel that they wanted to rest or eat something soon, but he couldn't think of any of that. The memory of Samuel's body churned his stomach. He continued.
— We know where she is, so that'll make things easier, and while I try to find something out, you two could get something to eat and a room.
No one complained about their roles in the plan. In fact, the Ravens seemed eager to go find a bed. Gabriel found himself alone quickly when the two headed toward the stairs leading to the upper floors.
He returned to the bustling street, following the flow, heading towards the sound of the waterfalls, the noise growing louder. The lights were all off since the sun was shining brightly in the sky, which was a bit disappointing. He preferred the city in its nighttime environment.
Large chunks of meat spun on iron skewers over the fire, and men were betting their coins throwing darts. The smell made Gabriel try to avoid the place, but it was ineffective as a crowd pushed into the establishment.
He squeezed between bodies, hearing curses and indignant voices from those who couldn't get a piece. When he emerged on the other side, a sense of relief washed over him. Shattering glass or people brawling were the most common sights.
The air felt more humid than before, mixed with the roar of the waterfalls. Holding onto a railing meant to prevent slipping on the smooth ground, Gabriel reached the back wall and continued toward a man who appeared to be aimlessly standing in the middle of nowhere.
The guard, hand on his knife, followed the intruder, closing in without losing sight of him for a second. The man before him seemed like any other bum, completely torn apart.
— You better leave — the guard spoke.
— I came to see Hylari.
— There's no one by that name here — the brute replied, narrowing his eyes and pulling his blade slightly. — I'll say it one more time, better leave.
— How annoying — Gabriel responded. — I thought you had the patience for this. Just let me through.
The Raven casually approached, making the guard unsheathe his weapon, but before he could make sense of anything, Gabriel was against the wall, with the guard's own knife pressed against his neck.
— Just call Hylari already.
The door opened, and the man who had welcomed them before appeared. He seemed unconcerned about his colleague's situation. He waved at Gabriel, who then released the guard.
— Hylari will see you.
— Thanks — Gabriel replied, entering.
Rubbing his neck, the man looked at his partner and asked:
— Who was that?
— A Raven.
The guard paled and shakily put away his weapon. He had seen Ravens before and had never thought much of them.
— He doesn't look like one — he said, resentful.
— You'd better start paying attention to details if you want to live in our line of work. Their eyes are cold and dull. — A new figure approached slowly, drawing the guard's attention, who warned his colleague. — Looks like today's going to be busy.
Leaving the two behind, Gabriel reentered the heart of the Oasis, where exotic drinks and games with absurd amounts of coins at stake were in full swing. Everyone seemed shocked to see a Raven, creating an unnatural silence throughout the place. The door flanked by two guards opened, and through it, Hylari awaited him while adjusting her glasses.
Gabriel moved swiftly toward her, closing the door behind him and facing her. Even though she was short and not remotely threatening, the woman shot him a piercing look.
— You look terrible — Hylari commented. — Looks like the lead I had was real.
— I need to know something — Gabriel cut in. — I remember our previous conversation, you mentioned that a Raven was suffering from the S.L., which one was it?
— I didn't talk to you, I talked to that light-eyed Raven. Bia, if I'm not mistaken. Where is she? — The old woman saw something in his face, getting her answer. — I see. Sure, I can tell you, but having Ravens come into my establishment really messes with my business.
A sharp response surged violently to Gabriel's mouth, but just then, a shot rang out, followed by shouting and more shots. From behind the door, sounds of panic and rushing filled the small room in an instant.
Hylari, wide-eyed, crouched instantly behind her desk. Gabriel, on the other hand, exited the room to face the chaos.
At the entrance, a very thin woman, dressed in scant clothing and covered in vomit and other things Gabriel couldn't even begin to imagine, was shooting at everyone, with no discretion. The figure wore nothing but a white thong, stained with urine and feces, her hair falling in various places on her head, causing large bald patches.
The shooting stopped when the strange figure saw Gabriel and smiled, revealing yellow teeth and some missing ones. The entire situation seemed surreal to the Raven, who stared at her weapon in disbelief. How could someone in such a state have a revolver? He wondered to himself.
But the time to think seemed almost nonexistent. What had once been random attacks now focused entirely on him. The sound of gunfire reverberated through the place, along with the groans of the wounded.
Gabriel dove forward, running with his head down, practically diving behind a table. The bullets made coins fly along with the wood, and pulling out his Magnum, he counted the shots mentally, knowing when the clip would be empty.
A brief moment of peace was the cue for the counterattack. Rising just enough, he shot at the door, but the other seemed to anticipate it. She moved quickly to a small stage where a dead dancer lay on top. And the exchange of gunfire began, making even the roar of the waterfall seem like a lullaby.
She worked quickly with her fingers to reload her weapon every time it emptied. Gabriel moved, always trying to gain an advantage over her, but she seemed to mirror him effectively, resulting in a near stalemate. The smallest mistake would mean death.
Something caught his attention when the attacks stopped coming his way. The other's ammunition had run out, and taking advantage of this, he prepared to finish the fight, but stopped his finger just before pulling the trigger.
With a short sword similar to Gabriel's, the woman used a man as a human shield, hiding in such a way that it was impossible to hit her without killing the man.
Gabriel would have to use close combat. He put the gun away and unsheathed his sword. The woman seemed satisfied, tossing the hostage aside and shooting toward him, fast enough that he couldn't draw the Magnum again.
The blow came down hard on Gabriel's head, which he blocked, feeling his entire arm vibrate from the strike. A strange movement with her arm made him realize that another blade was flying toward him. He used a feint to the left, escaping another short sword.
The woman held a weapon in each hand. The Crow felt hatred for himself for not having retrieved his knife, because in that situation, it would have been essential. He gripped the hilt with both hands, preparing for the strikes that came down upon him.
They came from all directions and with force, and Gabriel had to continuously defend himself, but these were not random attacks; every strike had technique.
The tip of one of the blades cut through the air, aiming for his stomach. Gabriel stepped to the side, making the weapon pierce the empty space where his belly had been just a second ago. Using the power behind the attack, the woman threw herself forward and raised her other arm, tracing a semicircle in the air.
This time, Gabriel couldn't dodge and brought his weapon down in the opposite direction of hers, causing both blades to clash in the air with the sound of metal. The woman lost her balance slightly, giving him just enough time to recover and repeat the attack, aiming to decapitate her. Once again, the woman made a strange move, almost as if her body were fluid, and she crossed both swords in an "X."
The impact barely affected her defense. He was about to retreat when the kick landed in his vital spots. Gabriel used the force of the blow to distance himself, grimacing in pain, struggling to breathe as blood trickled from the old wound.
He realized something was wrong. It was as if the woman had no limitations in the way she moved, so an idea came to his mind. He released one of his hands from the weapon. Crouching down, ignoring the stabs of pain, he grabbed a bottle rolling on the ground. Still rising, he threw the glass perfectly at his opponent's face and ran immediately afterward.
As the bottle shattered in the air, she saw him approaching, preparing to make a lethal cut to her neck.
She was about to strike when the sound of a gunshot and the woman's body being thrown aside with a hole in her ribs stopped her advance. Confused by what had just happened, Gabriel saw Hylari holding a shotgun at the door to her room.
"Not just Crows know how to defend themselves!" shouted the small woman, holding the smoking gun at the barrel.
Feeling his legs shaking from exhaustion, Gabriel leaned against a table. Regaining his breath, he focused on the fallen body of his former opponent, and something in her hand caught his attention, making him approach instantly. His heart seemed to stop when he realized it.
"What the hell is going on?" Gabriel asked himself.
Hylari joined him shortly after, still holding the weapon aimed at the lifeless body. She didn't understand at first what the other was talking about, but then she saw.
"This situation is more dangerous than it initially seemed," the old woman whispered.
New gunshots and screams filled the city. Gabriel knew that his partners were also being hunted.