Ding!

The first clue that the day wasn’t going to end in a movie with lasagna for supper. It may have been the black translucent box, hovering at keyboard height, in front of Leo Law.

Leo was a twenty eight year old Caucasian with short, yet natural, silver hair and green eyes. Standing at five foot and eleven inches he wasn’t considered the tallest but he at least fit in with the crowd.

Allowing himself to focus on the box it read, ‘welcome to your favorite table top game, user! Please note that your race is locked and that you may now choose a class!’

Barbarian

Bard

Claric

Druid

Fighter

Monk

Palidin

Ranger

Rouge

Sorcerer

Wizard

Warlock

Your attributes have been predetermined by your life choices, take a look and then select your class!’

After reviewing his attributes he let his frustration slip out with a sigh, ‘the only reasonable classes for me are the bard or sorcerer.’

With another sigh he clamored back to his feet from the warehouse floor. After blinking a few times and a strong yawn he realized at some point he passed out at work.

Sweeping the area around him he spotted his other two crewmen in a similar state of confusion.

“Did you pass out too?” His hot headed crew mate Tomas started as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

The second man, Jim, flipped him the bird and laughed before turning his attention back to his prompt screen.

Listening to Tomas talk smack Leo shook his head and poked the Sorcerer option.

‘You have chosen to become a Sorcerer! You may now select a Sorcerous Origin!’

Aberrant Mind

Clockwork Soul

Dragonic Bloodline

Divine Soul

Shadow Magic

Storm Sorcery

Wild magic

‘Please make your selection now!’

“This is bullshit! How am I supposed to choose maneuvers when I never played the damn game!” Tomas snapped Leon out of his trance before glaring at the guy.

“Yo!” Tomas turned his chubby red faced self to face Leon, “pull your phone and google maneuvers. I’m sure you will find some you like.”

The short man visibly relaxed as he reached into his pocket and asked, “You played this stupid game before Leo?”

Grinning he gave a curt nod before looking back to his screen and selecting Shadow Magic.

‘Benifits from this are ‘Eye of The Dark’ and ‘Strenth of the Grave’ you may be feeling a bit off as a result.’

“My abilities are starting to sound creepy.” Leo laughed a little but a part of him knew exactly what he was doing. The hounds of Ill omen at level six was his goal after all.

“Thanks again for the advice man it really helped!” Leo paid him no mind as his gamer mind began rolling faster.

‘Your background has been generated to a close proximate of your real life. With that said you have been awarded the Urchin background! You have the skills Slight of hand and Stealth.’

Put off by the background he recalled having lived a midioker life up to now with parents that loved him, siblings that hated his guts, and a family he hade himself. ‘How the hell am I an urchin?’

‘Please choose two skills from your class’

Arcane and insight were selected before the short list could even finish displaying the options.

‘You may now select a feature of your choice!’

Leo had already been anticipating this and only had to wait for his option to present itself. As soon as it did he selected the human specific prodigy feat, then selected the skill perception, and finally finished by marking his insight with expertise.

‘As a final step you may now select your spells. Any equipment you may need is on you to find or maybe even make! Good Luck Human!’

Leo took his time selecting spells unaware of the events unfolding around him. As soon as he was done he let a sigh slip as he said, “Finally!”

It was that moment when the black screen vanished that his senses were flooded with all sorts of new and unfamiliar sents and even sounds were a bit more vivid. His eyes began to ache but he quickly began picking up on small things that lead his heart to sink.

‘Where did Tomas go and is that blood?!’ He thought as his green eyed gaze took in the room once more. A four pound sledge hammer missing off the wall, blood splatter right around where Tomas had been standing before, Jim not in the warehouse, and hand shaped blood smears on the door to the sales floor.

Thinking it through there was only one thing that came to his mind, “Did Jim assault Tomas?”

Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he weighed leaving or investigating further. ‘This sort of thing was expected in an apocalyptic scenario right? It happens on all the level up style mangas.’

With an audible gulp of air and his heart beating in his ears Leo took a calming breath as he began to go over his situation.

He flexed his right hand and fire answered the call. Despite the flames a cooling sensation rolled from his core, down his arm, into his hand, and back again.

‘This must be what magic feels like!’ He though as his fright began to dissipate and confidence grow.

“Who in the hell told ya’ll to turn out the damn lights!” It was Tomas’s voice yelling out and was met by the frightened screams of the sales reps.

‘So it was Tomas?’ Leo’s head was starting to hurt with all of the nonsense. Airing on the side of caution he took his time to walk as quietly as he could towards the front.

It was at that moment he realized he could see clearly despite how dark the sales floor could get with the lights out. At that same moment he caught sight of Tomas with the four pound sledge hammer in hand and a grin on his face.

“Good work on moving Jim’s useless *** to the dumpster! The only one left to get rid of is Leo’s bitch ass”

A couple of the ladies could be heard sobingly trying to say something but she was too far gone to understand.

“Oh Danni,” Tomas look and sounded mocking as he clicked his tongue and wagged a finger at her disapprovingly, “That just won’t do! Why don’t you go get a water and hit the restroom to clean up. If you run though I’m going to kill you.”

‘What a pig.’ Anger began to rise, his fire grew a bit brighter, and he had to take a few deep breath just to try and think things through.

On one hand he could walk away and go check on his family and on the other hand he could save them and kill that prick.

Thump, thump.

He took a deep breath, ‘if I let this go what happens to them?’

Thump, thump.

His free hand grips his chest, ‘can I even take him at this level?’

Thump, thump.

He realizes his breathing is growing more ragged, ‘they are so traumatized, does that mean they might act the same as him after this?’

Thump, thump.

‘Would it be more appropriate to just kill them all?’

Leo stumbled as he began to recognize where his line of thought was headed. Taking a couple of moments to steady himself he made a decision just as Tomas looked his way.

“Oh shit! He came to me?” He laughed before glancing back at the sales reps beside him cowering, “alright ladies! The one that smashes his skull in is my top bitch and queen of the harem!”

In that moment the decision was made as the once hysterical women stopped sobbing, dried there eyes enough to see, and as they got to there feet began to rush Leo.

“Shit!”

Given the distance he threw the first fire bolt at Danni the eldest of the three ladies. She didn’t stand a chance as the fire engulfed her and the damage delt. Assuming it worked like in the actual game she must have had a low constitution and Health Points or HP below ten.

The flow of magic returned to his arm signifying his readiness as they continued to close the distance.

His second shot missed as the remaining two ladies found there way to melee range.

With eyes wide open he watched there movements closely and narrowly dodged the first Ladies attempt at a full body tackle. At the same time he walked into the strong strike of the second lady’s powerful slap.

Fortunately he was able to roll across the ground and back to his feet as thunderclap came to mind. Energy flowed to both hands and back signifying the spells readiness.

CLAP!

Bringing his hands together he watched both ladies scream in pain as they stumbled in there continued advance. The damage wasn’t enough to finish them and he wasn’t sure if he could take one more slap like that.

‘Fuck! Was this more then I could handle?’ As if hearing his thoughts a laugh from behind him made his skin crawl and pain bloom from the soft side of his skull.

For a moment everything went dark but then that same cool feeling swarmed the entirety of his body.

“Wow, I didn’t thing I could get one over on this piece of shit!” Tomas laughed so hard Leo could smell his foul breath.

As anger swarmed him once more he clamored to his feet and quickly cast mage armor. Feeling invigored and even a bit more spry he narrowly dodged a sloppy swing from Tomas as he cried out in surprise. The two woman jumped in shock and fell on there rear endes as Leo and Tomas began there bout.

Leaping as far back as he could Leo rolled over the back end of a couch and nearly tripped as he tried to avoid a coffe table. Just as quickly he found his footing in time to clumsily sling a fire bolt at Tomas.

Tomas took it straight to the chest stopping long enough to pat out the embers that was his shirt, “Hot, hot! You’re so dead! Stop running so I can kill you!”

‘This could be worse, the ladies could have joined in by now.’ Leo thought to himself as he continued to back peddle and avoid furniture , ‘just one more shot!’

Swish!

“Shit!” Leo ducked just in time to avoid the four pound sledge hammer that had been aimed at his head, “TAKE THIS!”

With a mighty throw he watched as he let loose a fire bolt but cursed as Tomas side stepped the attack with a chuckle, “I feel like an anime character saying this Leo, but you can’t get me with the same trick twice!”

With that the chubby man grabbed the end of a sofa and began running in towards Leo in an attempt to pin him down.

“Fine then! TRY THIS!” As if on command lightning reached out from his outstretched hand surprising Tomas once more as it wrapped around his throat.

A sickening zap and snap assaulted Leo’s ears as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. With all the adrenaline cording through his vains he found himself eyeing the last two ladies who by now we’re on there feet.

“Oh my god Leo thank you so much for saving us!” Laura, the youngest sales rep, cried out as tears began to form once more.

Rage overcame his senses for a moment as he destinctly recalled them attacking him.

“Yes! We would have been forced to be his wives and slaves if…”

Sandy didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence as lightning cracked across her forehead. Laura let out a shriek as she watched the woman’s body hit the ground.

“Why!?!”

Until now he thought he was capable of being a hero or the good guy. This experience shaped him, teaching him just how strong his childhood demon really was.

“Why?” He mocked as his winter green’s met her soft blue eyes, “I tried to save you and you chose to attack. Good bye.”

With that he half heartedly threw a bolt of fire and watched as she burned for a moment. Her death quick enough to be merciful and long enough to suffer.

It was at that moment that his phone buzzed. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his IPhone and read the message from his best friend and chosen brother Blake.

Did you become a TTRPG Character too? Did Mica and Annabelle?

‘I should send a group message and check on my family.’ Exhausted and in pain he made his way to the back to collect his coat and keys.

Blake was so excited as he read the text and made his character selections. The meat head was practically blind to everything as he became an Folk Hero Barbarian. It made sense to him and with a few tricks he picked up from playing the game for so long he selected his skills a feats carefully.

‘If only Leo could see how quick I am with this or how cool my class is!’ His laugh was heard by most of the gym occupants as he bounced from one foot to the next, “I can’t WAIT for level three!”

Cracking his nuckles he took a deep breath to cool his nerves and quickly pulled his phone to text his brother. As soon as he hit send he frowned at the low service sign at the upper left hand side of his screen. It wasn’t uncommon for some of his messages to take up to a day to get to the recipient.

“Blake?” Glancing over his shoulder at his work out partner and Girlfriend Mira he giggled excitedly, “everyone is acting weird. Seeing all those boxes I think everyone is a Player Character now.”

Sensing her rising distress he gave a cursory look around the room where quite a few of his fellows were still making a selection.

“Yeah?” Blake took her equally calloused hands into his own, “should we run away together my darling?”

She gave a dirty look knowing full well he was too playful do to his excitement, “I mean it Blake. We should leave before anyone else finishes Character creation!”

‘She’s always had a strong intuition, I wonder what class she took?’ His smile shrank as rational started to return, “lead the way.”

Her relief was visible as he shoulders relaxed and she began to lead them out of the relatively small Gym.

“What class did you choose Mira?” She shot him a look over her shoulder, cherry red hair flowing in the breeze.

“What class do I always choose?” He rolled his eyes at her knowing full well that she would always choose Monk.

“Ok Fisty, we should go check on your parents.” The pair fell quite as the walked the bike path that would soon take them to the house that Mira shared with her parents.

The birds were chirping and fish could be heard from the river that ran parallel with the bike path. Silence quickly took over though and the the horror started. People screaming, gun shots filled the air, cars crashing, and as the approached the street intercecting with the bike path they could see mass hysteria at work.

Everyone was doing everything in the power to fight and kill someone or another. Those that weren’t held the line in there homes with bows, rifles, and other such tools. Anyone on the road appeared to me tactically driving themselves home to there own loved ones.

“Oh, my god!” Mira squeezed his hand with her powerful grip. He knew better then to ask, she had a temper and the question ‘are you OK’ was an automatic punch with her.

She wasn’t the only one hurting at the sight. He, a believer in the good of man, couldn’t help but reject the sight before him. The adventurer and gamer in him though…

Mira dropped his hand and in the blink of an eye dashed across the street. With a keep he watched as she landed with one knee in the chest of a man who had just kicked a kid to the ground.

Registering what was happening his heart skipped a beat and then his blood began to boil. Memories began to flood his mind of worse days involving his best friend and chosen brother.

As his vision cleared he found himself kneeling beside the child one arm in front of the little boy. Seeing the blood pool he knew Mira had accidentally, or maybe even intentionally, killed that man. The problem was the seven other adults that stepped out of the house a moment later as his girlfriend squared off to fight.

“Oi! What the hell?” The leader apparent swquaked in a clearly sloshed slur, “get’em!”

Mira took a step back just as Blake stood to his full height of six foot four inches. Built like a brick house it was no surprise that each of the people in front of him hesitated at the sight of his jacked muscles or the murder in his autumn eyes.

“Take the kid. I’ll take care of this.” He gave a small glance over his shoulder only to see the conflict in her eyes.

“Never split the party.” The confidence in her voice was mirrored by the steel in her oceanic eyes. At this moment Blake noted the freckles the spanned the bridge of her nose.

“What class are you little man?” He stopped listening to her as the group before him began to chuckle.

“Yo muscles, you got a death wish or what?” Asked One of the man, athletic by the looks of him, in his basketball shorts and jersey.

“We’re leaving with the kid. Come at us and we will not hesitate to put you down.”

There leader scoffed but threw his hands up anyways. With a gesture the small group geumbled to amongst themselves as they filed back into the house.

“Those guys are not going to drop it Blake.” Kneeling down to meet the two at there level he raised a brow to signify his confusion, “I just know, ok.”

‘That intuition of hers, I tell you what.’ Blake helped the little boy to his feet and watched him carefully. He was fully aware of what these kinds of situations could do to people, especially children.

“We should get going all the same. Anyone coming at your dads house is more likely to catch a bullet let alone ring the door bell.” The boy sullenly watched the house as they walked away. Blake was familiar with this having come from a foster home. The sullen expression the boy wore reminded him of the longing, loneliness that follows, and missing his family no matter how bad things may have been…

Silence fell over the three of them and so with the boys hand in Mira’s Blake lead them down the street.

“There following us.” They could hear there laughter, cat calls, and insults behind them as the walked. After several blocks it was evident they planned to follow them all the way home.

“Don’t worry Mira. I know you don’t like it but go ahead a take the boy home…”

“Zack!“ Blake looked down at the boy to find that he had indeed spoken up, “M-my name is Z-Zack.”

“Read the Message idiot!” Blake chuckled, as he did every time he received a text message, as he pulled his phone.

Answering quickly he allowed himself to fall behind giving Mira as much distance as he could while also checking and answering his brother’s texts.

Mira looked over her shoulder once more and he understood what she wanted to say, “stay safe idiot.”

Taking a deep breath he felt a weight lift from his shoulders, then a moment later a cold chill ran down his spine. From that chill his every muscle fiber throbbed and then burned as blind rage turned into an frozen furry.

Turning to face these would be little gangsters he cracked his neck once before stepping into the ally way.

He wasn’t disappointed as the first guy rounded the corner with his buddy and charged. The both swung there bats but one missed. It looked like he was trying to avoid being hit at the same time he swung.

The other guy hit with a loud THUD! He quickly realized his mistake as the bat bounced off of Blake’s chest appearing to have left almost no damage what so ever.

With out a thought Blake grabbed the two by there heads and picked them both up. Slamming their head’s together he took just a moment to realize they might have died from that one blow.

“Holy BRO! He’s a frickin Monster!” The third guy cried as he started to reach into his pants. Realizing what he was reaching for Blake gave a mighty Spartan kick to the guys chest.

The soung of bone crushing and fluids evacuating almost pulled Blake out of his rage with a sudden but brief desire to hurl. He expected this kind of thing would happen eventually but not this soon.

The four and fifth guy weren’t taking any chances as they came around the corner with a pair of pistols. Both fired a shot off, missing him as he took this time to run, another pair of shots, and this time he took one to the shoulder.

Letting out a scream as he rolled to avoid out right falling as he ducked around the corner to await his pray. ‘How much HP do I have left?’

As if answering the question he suddenly knew,’ 7 out of 16HP.’

“Oh god, can I finish this?” His words betrayed him as the two came around the corner ready to fire. One missed and the other clipped his left knee.

Another stifled scream filled his lungs even as he reached out and snagged one guy by his face. Lifting him up he slammed him into the other guy With a sickening crunch in his hand and a second crunch from the guy who’s head met the corner of a dumpster.

It was then that then that last guy came around the corner with a jump kick to his chest. Blake only just caught sight of the knife in his hand as he hit the ground.

With his vision fading fast he only just made out the words, “You killed my friends you piece of shit!”

A quick but loud whistle range out as the man jolted, there was a sudden but brief warmth, and then thesound of a body landing next to him was all he could focus on as he clung to consciousness.

Foot steps filled the last few threads of his focus as a familiar voice lulled him, “Jesus Blake….”

With that Blake faded into the sweet embrace of unconsciousness.

‘I am not going to complain, nope, I won’t do it!’ Leo was extremely frustrated as he got up from another break. The last two hours had been an grueling fight to pick up, carry, and even drag Blake home. This was a true test for his twelve points of strength.

Taking the time to muscle Blake up like a back pack Leo walked walked the last block deep in thought.

‘How many ways can people pretend to be a victim before recognizing the monster they’ve become?’ He couldn’t believe how many people were taking out the people they liked the least, robbing banks, or even banding together for the darker things in society had to offer. Every step Leo took left him with a darker thought then the last.

By the time he got to his front door he had almost worked himself into a rage, and without thinking he kicked the door, but it didn’t budge.

“Shit!” His foot was now throbbing in pain. Even as he berated himself Leo could hear movement from the other side of the door.

“… sounded like dad!” His son, Mica, sounded from the other side, “who’s there!”

“I have uncle Blake on my back Mica, open the door!”

“It is dad mom!” The clicking of locks and a couple of other odd noises sounded before the door slid inward, “Is uncle…”

Mica froze with his grassy green gaze transfixed on the brown mop of hair draped over his fathers shoulder.

“You need to move now, bud.” Leo was struggling to hold himself and Blake up at this point. All Leo wanted to do was put Blake down, but if he did then they were not getting back up again.

“Oh s-sorry,” Mica stepped aside as Leo forced himself forward. Each step felt like death encroaching before he finally made it to the living room where he unintentionally let Blake drop.

With a sigh of releif he joined the Barbarian on the floor while his wife began to scurry about in a panic. His arms felt like lead as he pointed at Blake. Even though he couldn’t quite focus on what was being said or even what was actually going on he managed to say, “use cure wounds on Blake.”

As if on que his fatigue caught up to him and he passed out. When he woke he found himself questioning the time of day. With his apparent ability to see in the dark it was like day at all times.

His head had stopped hurting but he found himself incredibly hungry. To his surprise he realizes his wife must have moved him to the bedroom because his comfy pillow was tucked in the way he normally slept and the comforter had been draped over him. His shoes and socks had been removed based on the breeze that graced his toes but that seemed to be the end of what had been done for him.

With a smile he threw his legs off the side of the bed but instead of standing he fall to one knee. Forcing himself to stand left his legs shaking,a testament to how hard he pushed to get himself and Blake home. Despite this he forced himself to take one Whaley step after another until he found himself standing in the dinning room where his family sat, eating, in silence.

Annabelle, his wife, spared him a glance that said it all. Leo could see the anger, the worry, and the relief rolling through her in a storm that said he probably shouldn’t say anything.

Gathering a plate of mashed potatoes, baked chicken, and mixed vegetables he took his seat across from her and next to Mica.

“Hey dad,” Mica kept his head down,like he had done something wrong, as he ate but a smirk and excited glance said otherwise as the boy spoke up, “uncle Blake is sleeping, mom patched him up-”

Before Mica could say more Annabelle managed a small, “I asked you to be safe.”

“Do you know what’s happening out there?” Leo tried to reassure her with a smile but she was focused on her own plate, “we were as safe as we could be.”

“BLAKE WAS SHOT!” She slammed her fork down as tears started to form, “not very safe Leo.”

“Other people were murdered, kidnapped, ran over, and more. Alive and somewhat wounded is as safe as it gets.” The remark seemed to wound her a little as Annabelle leaned into the comfort of her chair.

Mica was starting to look uncomfortable with the line of conversation and for good reason. After considering current events he took a second to look his wife and son over.

Annabelle stood at five foot and nine inches with curly dirty blond locks and pail blue eyes. She had a strong shapely frame and an a demanding presence despite her short stature.

Mica was a very clear mix of mom and dad both. His hair was silver, curly, and long. At ten years old he stood almost as tall as him mom and had what one might call a small hero’s frame; muscular but skinny.

Up till now Mica was an avid soccer player and often spent too much time with uncle Blake and his girlfriend Mira.

Annabelle often spent her time planning the next days activities, managing the bills, and setting the family schedual so Leo knew better then to let this go on too long. The only thing he could do to let her know that he wasn’t out there acting foolish was to sincerely say, “I’m sorry.”

“You better be! Now that I’m a Claric I’ll knock some sense into you if you don’t!”

Mica laughed, almost falling out of his seat. It drew a smile to his moms thin lips. After a spell of jokes and feel good talk Leo found himself relaxing enough to ask the last few important questions that needed asking, “what skills do you have Momma-Bear, Little-Bear?

Mica was the first to pipe up as he proudly declared, “I’m skilled dad! That’s the feat that took!”

“I chose stealth, survival, and perception for my skills! Then the system told me my background was athlete, so I have athletics and acrobatics as well! Then with my chosen skill I picked persuasion! And with skilled I took arcane, medicine, and Nature!”

Proud of his son’s well though out skill build as a rouge they bumped fists. Before the boy made to go check on his uncle.

After he left the room Annabelle let out an exausted sigh as she bodily plopped onto the couch gesturing for him to join her. Instead he walked up behind to rub her shoulders with a kiss to the top of her head.

“I’m sorry I worried you, was it difficult to heal Blake?” She stopped him with a hand over his and a tired eyes.

“Today is the worst day of my life. Not only had my life become a game but my husband and his best friend, our family friend, almost died.” She took a sharp deep breath letting him now just how upset she actually was.

“I like to call him my brother.”

“Your brother almost died today.” He tried hard to take those words seriously but with her class and even with the game system now in place he found himself thinking like a player rather then someone with only one life and no back up character.

Taking the time to think it through he walked around and sat next to her. As she let her shoulder fall into his he made one final attempt to let her relax by saying, “We shall be more careful, Love.”

At that moment a knock at the door derailed any further comments on the subject. Annabelle rose slowly from her seat with a winded, “that should be Mira, she was supposed to be here hours ago.”

Hearing the door open and then close Leo watched the red head walk in behind his wife. She looked like a mess as she hit her knees sobbing. Blood and ash covered her close in versions places. Her hair was disheveled, a deep looking gash across her above and off set from her right eye, and burns on her arms.

Leo was off the couch in a heartbeat, “What…!”

Before he could take another step Annabelle waved him off and took her into her arms, “go make sure Mica doesn’t come out here. I will get her cleaned up and fed.”

Leo stared for a moment but just as Annabelle looked like she was going to get on him Leo made for the bebrooms.

Opening the door to a his sons room he assumed the light was off because his boy was out cold on his full sized bed. Cartoon covered blankets pulled up to his chin and half kicked off his feet.

‘So much for checking on your Uncle,’ Leo smiled soft and sad. Moving across the room silently he sat at the foot of his sons bed as he thought things over again.

How were they to move forward from here? Where everyone they knew was potentially an enemy. What about there home, the place they had all fought tooth and nail for the to build lives they could be proud of?

As he thought it all over he could hear the shower start and Annabelle moving about as she spoke to Mira. Just thinking about the condition she was in drew his mind to his own actions.

His breath grew ragged again just thinking of those people before, thought of the future and what he might do flooded his mind. Looking at his son He couldn’t help feeling weak for the decisions he had already made.

“For this little family of ours… Do I need you to be proud of me or can I do what ever it takes to keep you all safe?”

He rested his head into his hands with a sigh, “I haven’t changed at all…”

“What’s that babe?”

Looking up from his hands his wife was standing In the door way, “Are you ok?”

Standing up he met her at the door and closed it slowly from the outside, “I’m ok. Mica’s asleep so I’m going to check on Blake next.”

Stepping passed Annabelle he opened the door to Blake’s room where his oldest friend and brother lay sleeping soundly. There were no bandages, only scars left behind where bullets had ripped through him.

Seeing as he seemed fine Leo took the time to set extra pillows and blankets out for Mira. The noise caused Blake to shift in his sleep as Annabelle came in long enough to grab some of Mira’s spare cloths and a towel. just as she closed the door Blake shot up with a gasp for air before rapidly looking around.

“Welcome back idiot. I thought you might of taken the easy way out.” Leo’s teasing tone drew his gaze long enough for recognition to settle in.

“You saved my *** man.” Blake let himself fall back onto his pillow, “I really thought I could take those guys till the guns came out.”

“How did you end up in that situation?” Leo may have looked worried but he was more relieved to see his brother, more or less, undamaged by the events of the day.

“We we’re on our way to Mira’s when we found a kid being abused. We stepped in and took the kid with but they followed.”

“You stopped to fight so Mira and the kid had time to get away.” It wasn’t a question. Leo had known Blake since they were in diapers and had always known about his hero complex.

Blake remained silent knowing full well that Leo was connecting the dots.

“You should know that Mira arrived here instead with no kid. She looked pretty bad.”

Seeing his brother frustrate and ultimately agonize over the information was hard even as the living tank climbed out of bed.

“Is she ok now?”

“She really hasn’t said much. Maybe Annabelle knows more.” Leo stepped out of the room, “ I’ll let you change, come out to the living room when you are done.”

Closing the door behind him he walked out and took a seat with his wife. Taking her hand into his the reality began to sink in even as she voiced his thought, “this isn’t the same game you guys are used to playing.”

“I know.”

“We need a plan of action Leo.” She was speaking softly as if you say that she knew where his head was at.

‘If only you knew sweet.’

“When Blake and Mira come out we can discuss it further. That ok?” He really only just recognized the nod from the corner of his eye.

Blake’s door clicked closed from down the hall, then a moment later the bathroom door clicked open. It was as if she had just arrived all over again. From the living room it sounded worse.

Mira sobbed, Blake took her into his arms and guided her into the living room. It was easy to see that the red head was working out what she had been through in her mind.

“They ran him over.” Mira sobbed with her head buried in Blake’s chest. The room was quite as Leo and Annabelle watched on.

“THEY KILLED ZACK!” Mira scream angrily as she slammed her fists into Blake’s chest with a resounding thud. “Mom… Dad…”

Blake struggled to find words, instead he chose to hold her tighter until she said, “They burned the house down… with mom and dad still- still in it!”

By now the fight had left her body and all she could do was slump against Blake. He also looked weak in the knees and pale in the face.

“Oh god!” Annabelle was in tears at the thought of such behavior and it was clear she was imagining what that would have been like if it was her home.

Leo guided the pair to their seats as every conceivable thought passed through his mind. It was in that moment that his wife, looking to him for support, noticed the anger behind his eyes.

“Blake…”

His brother looked to him still pale from the revilations of this evening, “where do I find these people?”

That single sentence changed the atmosphere in the room. Blake gulped, Annabelle drained of color, and Mira almost immediately stopped crying.

drying her eyes the best she could she spoke up, “I know where.”

‘She looks ready for payback,’ Leo struggled as he weighed offering her the chance to come with him.

“I’m going with you.” It was a statment rather the. A question as the physically strongest woman Leo know stood up and collected herself.

“You two are kidding right?” Annabelle and Blake both looked very concerned.

“Revenge can wait till morning. We should at least try and rest first.” Blake Tried to sound confident but it died in his throat as he took in the clear resolve in both his brother and his girlfriend.

Annabelle cussed as she stood up and threw her index finger in Leo’s face, if they come bake any type of hurt I’m taking it out of you!”

She was furious with the reckless decision making they were presenting her with. Before she could walk away Leo took her by the hand and asked the most impactful que St ion he could.

“And if it had been Mica?” He watched her squirm for a moment before kissing her and saying, “heal Mira one more time before we go.”

With a sigh she stepped forward and placed her hands on Mira’s shoulders. A soft glow surrounded the pair and the burns vanished with a hiss, and the cut by her eye hissed to a scar.

Annabelle turned to walk away but paused long enough to face Leo and plant a hard kiss on his lips, “Don’t take unnecessary Risks. Kick there asses and get home.”

“Will do.”

He loved his wife, supported him in everything even when he didn’t think he deserved it. This was one of those moments he knew he didn’t deserve it.

“Let’s go.”