"Stop pacing. You're going to give me anxiety."

"I can't stop pacing, Lian, because I already have anxiety!"

"Calm down, Micah."

"Don't tell me to calm down. This is a terrible plan, and you know it."

"It's your plan."

"It was a joke!"

"Well, your joke was better than anything anyone else was pitching."

"You won't be saying that when we both get arrested."

"We aren't going to be arrested."

Micah huffed as he continued to pace back and forth. He knew better than that. This plan was a stupid one. But what else had he expected from Scythe? He should've known better than to joke around that man. Especially about something like this.

"Seriously, Micah." Lian was sitting nearby in a booth, practically lounging in it, as if he didn't have a care in the world. "Relax. You're going to make people suspicious. You're acting like a caged animal right now. Sit down. Have a cup of tea to calm your nerves."

"I would rather die than drink a cup of that nasty leaf juice."

"So coffee, then," Lian suggested.

"You really think coffee is going to settle my nerves?"

Lian paused, then said: "With you, perhaps. You're at your best when you're caffeinated, from what I've seen."

"You aren't wrong," Micah said. "But I don't think I could stomach coffee right now. I don't think I could stomach anything."

"You're that worried?" Lian asked. "Lord almighty. Should I be worried?"

"Yes!" Micah exclaimed. "What about everything I've been saying and doing has not made that clear?!"

"Look, try to stay optimistic," Lian said. "Maybe you're getting all worked up for nothing. Maybe it'll all go well."

"You don't know her like I do." Micah shook his head. "She can hold a grudge like her life depends on it. And, by God, can she lecture you. She'll tear you apart. And worst of all, she's self-righteous enough that she would arrest us, just to teach us a lesson."

"But she's your sister, and you seem to have had a good relationship with her," Lian said, a frown in his voice. "Surely she wouldn't."

"I literally just said that she would." Micah impatiently said. "I'm not making things up for the fun of it, Lian. Adelaide is a force of nature. We've got to be careful going into this."

"Of course we'll be careful," Lian said. "No one expected us to go into this recklessly. We are dealing with a hero, after all."

"We sure are," Micah muttered.

They both fell silent. Thanks to the chattering of the coffee shop's customers all around them, however, the room was still filled with noise. Normally, Micah liked the ambiance of coffee shop gossip. But right now, he was far too overstimulated for this sort of atmosphere. The dozens of overlapping voices grated on his nerves, putting him on edge. Well, putting him more on edge than he already was.

"Look, just... sit down. Please?" Lian eventually sighed. "This plan won't work if she gets suspicious. And your pacing is a major red flag."

Micah halted in place. He knew Lian was right. He just loathed to admit it.

"Fine." He relented. "Fine, I'll sit."

He marched over to Lian's booth, sliding into the bench across from him. And though he still felt antsy and nervous, he held as still as he could. The only visible sign of his anxiety was his leg. It bounced under the table, out of view.

He scanned the area with his sixth sense, trying to ensure that she couldn't sneak up on them. He kept his eyes closed to dim their glow, not wanting to attract any attention from nearby customers. She wasn't here. Not yet, at least. He clenched his jaw. She was late. Why was she late? She wasn't a particularly punctual person, but he would've thought she'd at least show up on time for this.

"Lian?" He spoke up. "How's traffic today?"

Lian's head turned towards the window. "Well, it isn't all that bad. It's no better or worse than the last couple of times we've come to this part of town."

"So... it's not busy enough to make her late?"

"No."

Micah frowned. That was... well, it was suspicious, to say the least. Was she planning something? Adelaide had never really been one for subterfuge. Not when it came to problems that arose between them, at least. Though, there wasn't really a precedent to this. Perhaps he'd crossed that line he'd always feared he'd cross. Maybe he'd done something she couldn't forgive, and now she was treating him not as a brother, but as a runaway. A troublemaker. A criminal, even.

He buried his face in his hands, letting out a sigh. If she ever found out about what Scythe had planned, what Micah was participating in, she'd lose her mind.

And she had every right to. Micah didn't know how he felt about this plan. It had been years since he'd served Pardus, since he'd committed evils he knew he'd never forget, some of which he'd never confess to. Adelaide would never look at him the same way. He'd served Pardus to protect Matthew, to protect Adelaide. Coercion, Adelaide had called it. Persuasion to do crime by using force and threats. And Pardus sure had used a lot of force and threats.

Micah had done a lot of things back then. Things that were far worse than arson. He'd never felt guilty then. He'd always reasoned that he did it all for Mattie, for Addie. He became evil so they never would. But the past few years of living with Adelaide had gotten to him. Three years of being preached to about morals and ethics had taken its toll. Now, he was hesitant to do something of this scale.

Children could die. Innocent teenagers. Sheltered students who dreamed of justice and glory and other heroic things.

They could die in the fire Scythe wanted them to set.

Three years ago, Micah wouldn't have cared. He would've done as he was told. But now, Micah did. He was well aware that he wasn't obeying Scythe out of coercion. He was obeying Scythe simply because he craved this way of life. Even the traces of morals that Addie had managed to instill in him weren't enough to keep him from running right back to crime. And running right back to a villain who only sought to use him, to use others, for his own gain.

Micah slowly ran his fingers through his tangled, curly hair. Scythe wasn't Pardus. Pardus was cold and calculating and cruel. Scythe was a weak imitation. But this? This crime he wanted Micah and the others to commit in his name? It really would put Scythe on the road to success. Or worse, the road to becoming the city's new Pardus.

God help them all if that were the case.

"What's wrong?" Lian asked. "You look like you're in pain."

Micah sighed. "It's this plan. I just..."

"You're having doubts." Lian guessed.

Micah nodded.

"That's reasonable," Lian said. "I think we all are. It's a dangerous plan. One that could get us all thrown into jail for years if we get caught. It's normal to feel a sense of trepidation."

"Not for me." Micah insisted. "I've been trained to do these sorts of things for as long as I can remember. I've been molded to someday become the perfect villain. I should be used to this. But for three years, my sister has been trying to infect me with her sense of morality. And I think it worked."

Lian snorted. "Somehow I doubt that."

"I don't mean that it worked entirely." Micah corrected. "I mean, I used to only care about two people. My adoptive brother and sister. I could care less if anyone else lived or died." He sighed. "But now, I'm feeling sympathy. It's horrible."

Lian chuckled a little. "Well, I think I can help you out with your little struggle. See, my life was the opposite of yours. I was raised to be a hero. I was filled to the brim with sympathy and taught to care for everyone."

"Sounds miserable." Micah snorted.

"It was, but not for the reasons you'd think," Lian said. "My problem wasn't that I dislike sympathizing with people. It was that I loved it. That I was too good at it. It held me back. I couldn't fight because I feared hurting people. I froze up when I was put in scenarios where there were too many people who all needed my help. I couldn't handle it."

"So what changed?" Micah asked. "I assume something did. You wouldn't be here if that wasn't the case."

"Nothing really changed," Lian said. "I simply had an epiphany. I eventually realized that I would never be successful so long as I could empathize with others. So I trained myself to shut off my empathy. I tried my best to catch up to my sister. I cut corners and pushed boundaries. I tried my hardest to become something I wasn't."

"And?"

"And still, my mother didn't care." There was a hint of anger in Lian's voice. "No matter what I did, I wasn't good enough. So I kept pushing. Until one day, I pushed too hard. And I killed someone."

That took Micah by surprise. Of all the people present, he hadn't expected Lian to have killed a person before. The boy seemed so... tame.

"And that's when you were sent here?" Micah asked. "After you killed him?"

"Yes," Lian said. "That's also when I realized how awful it felt to just... not care. It didn't feel right. I felt like a stranger in my own skin. And yet, it was the only way I knew to be like my mother and sister."

"So how does this help me?" Micah raised his eyebrow.

"Well, I've come to another realization, more recently," Lian admitted. "My sympathy for others was my greatest strength. You see, my idio relies on it, almost. I can sense other people's past pains. And then, thanks to my ability, I can weaponize their weaknesses."

"So, what? Your realization was that you were better suited as a villain than a hero?"

"No. My realization was that I was at my best when I was being myself."

"Myself." Micah echoed. "What if I'm not too sure just who I am anymore?"

"Then that's a whole new issue." Lian chuckled. "One I can't help you with."

Micah sighed. Great.

"Look—" Lian leaned forward. "My advice is this: don't worry about it. Don't worry about anything. Just keep your head down and do what Scythe says. You want to be a villain, right?"

Micah nodded.

"Then figure out a way to get around your sympathy issue." Lian shrugged.

"Well, in the past, when I've felt guilt or sympathy, I just... blocked it out." Micah admitted. "I compartmentalized. I didn't dwell. I just did what you said. I kept my head down and obeyed." He hesitated. "I just don't know if that's what I want anymore."

"What do you want, then?"

"I... I want—"

"Micah!"

He flinched at the sound of her voice. Oh God. He wasn't prepared for this. Had he really gotten so distracted that he hadn't noticed her approach?

Micah slowly stood from his seat, turning his attention towards her. Towards Adelaide. Her energy signature was vibrant, thrashing violently. It was tumultuous. Her heart pounded and her body radiated heat. Either she was furious or she'd been running several miles.

"Hey, Addie." He said softly.

She was silent for a moment. Then another. And another. He clenched his fist, trying to keep his arms from shaking. As the moment drew on and on, he began to pray for something to happen. Anything. He just needed the silence to end. Screaming and raging was preferable to this.

Then, she took a step towards him. He heard a soft sniff. Then, all of a sudden, she was sprinting towards him. His eyes widened in fear, in panic, but there was no time to flee. No time at all. Within seconds, she'd slammed against him. Within seconds, her arms had wrapped tightly around him, and she was sobbing.

"Oh my God, I'm so glad you're okay." She cried. "I've been worried sick. I— I thought you were dead! I thought you'd been taken! I thought you'd gotten lost! Damnit, Micah! How could you do this to me?! What's gotten into you?! You could've died! You could've been found by someone, someone with a grudge, someone who wants revenge! You're blind, Micah! Blind! Did you even think this through?!"

He slowly wrapped his arms around her, in shock. He wasn't being arrested. He wasn't being screamed at. His sister was just... worried. Not angry.

"I'm sorry," Micah whispered, holding her tight. "I'm so sorry. I... I'll explain everything."

"You better." She sniffed, looking up at him. "And there better be a mind-blowingly good reason for putting me through this hell."

He put on a wavering smile. God, this was hard. "There is. I promise. Will you sit down?"

"Fine." She mumbled. "But if you run, I will tackle you."

He laughed a little. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Micah led her over to the booth, where Lian waited patiently, watching them in complete silence.

"Who's this?" Adelaide asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

"My name is Lian," The boy said smoothly as Micah slid in next to him.

"He's my friend," Micah said. "We're in... a bit of a similar situation, and we bonded over it."

Adelaide sat on the bench across from the boys. "How so?"

Micah habitually glanced over at Lian, crossing his arms and leaning on the table. "Well, we both come from families of heroes, for one."

"Oh? You do?" Adelaide warmed up to Lian almost instantly. "Anyone I'd know?"

"My mother's a hero in China," Lian explained. "So most likely... no."

Adelaide nodded as Micah continued. "Addie, you wanted an explanation, and this is it. You might not like what I have to say, but I need to say it."

"Go on." She said.

"I ran away because I was feeling overwhelmed," Micah explained. "You were putting so much pressure on me. I couldn't take it. I was feeling so lost after losing my old life and my old... friends. It was all just too much to handle. I needed space. Space to figure out for myself who I was and what I wanted. So I came back to my roots, to Amberchase, to work it all out. I met Lian. He's a lot like me, actually. He ran away from home, too, for almost the same reason."

So far, it was all the truth. He hadn't said a single lie. But that was about to change.

"Together, we've figured out what we want to do." He took a breath. "Addie, we want to go to hero school. And we were hoping you could find a way to introduce us to the right people at TAFAH."

Adelaide gasped. "Really?!" There was genuine excitement in her voice. "Oh my God! That's all I've ever wanted!" She let out a giddy laugh. "My brother's going to follow in my footsteps. Oh, thank the Lord! I really thought you'd ran away to join a gang or something!"

Micah forced a laugh. "You know me better than that. I may have a rough background, Addie, but I have high standards."

She leaned forward, reaching over the table to grasp his hands. "Micah. You know your past has never been a big deal to me. All I want is for you to be happy and safe." She let out a joyous sigh. "But this? This makes this past week's heartache and pain and worrying all worth it. God, I would've let you run away long ago if I knew this would be the result!"

Lian glanced between the pair. "So... does that mean you'll help us?"

"Of course!" Adelaide exclaimed. "There's nothing I'd love more than to help my brother and his friend enroll in TAFAH! I'm so proud of you both! I promise, you'll love it there."

Oh, how this hurt. It hurt to see her so excited, knowing he was ultimately going to betray her. Why was he doing this? Was it too late to back out? After all these years of protecting her, could he really hurt her like this?

He was going to be crushing her dreams. Maybe he hadn't ruined their relationship yet, but this? This might do it. And for what? For Scythe? For his ragtag group of idiots? Why was he participating in this plan? It was doomed to fail, and he knew it. They were all going to get caught and arrested. They weren't ready for this. So why was he going along with it?

He sighed.

He hadn't signed up for all this... conflict. This confusion.

"Micah? Is everything alright?" He heard Adelaide ask. "You look glum all of the sudden."

Micah shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Don't mind me. I just haven't caffeinated myself yet."

"Oh, really?" Adelaide perked up. "Let me buy you a coffee, then! A celebration coffee. A present for your decision to go to TAFAH."

He chuckled weakly. "Speaking of... how would that even work? I'd be a senior in high school. Surely I can't just pop into school as a senior."

"Sure you can," Addie said. "People do it all the time."

"But this is a hero school." He pointed out. "And I've been homeschooled my whole life. I don't even think I have records to prove I've been educated. Why on earth would they accept me?"

"Because of me." Adelaide declared. "I've got a secret weapon."

"What is it?" Lian asked.

"My mom's old friend." She answered. "Mr. Grey. They went to high school together. He helped me get my license. And he helped me—" She glanced at Micah. "Well, he helped me rescue someone dear to me from some very bad people."

Micah frowned. Was she talking about him? He didn't remember a man being present when he was rescued from the ones who took his sight. Then again, he'd been in immense pain, recently blinded, and had been suffering from a brutal concussion. He hadn't been in the best state of being to be observant.

"So this Mr. Grey can help us enroll?" Lian inquired. "Even though we're on the older side?"

"Yes." She nodded. "You'll have to pass a few exams, of course. A combat exam and a written one, to prove you're fit to enter your senior year, unless you have documentation to prove your grades."

"I don't," Lian said. "So I guess I'll be taking a test."

Micah nudged him. "We both will. Maybe we could, ah, help each other."

"No cheating, you two." Adelaide teased. "I want you both to get in, but I want you to get in on your own merit."

"I wouldn't dream of cheating." Micah chuckled, though he'd already considered it.

"Good." Addie stood. "I'm off to get you your coffee, then. Stay put." She scampered off.

"Well," Lian said. "That went better than I thought it would."

"I know." Micah let out a relieved sigh. "I really thought she was going to kill me."

Lian nudged him. "See? I told you to stay positive."

Micah nudged him back. "Positivity doesn't usually work out. This was a fluke."

"I disagree."

"Of course you do." Micah snorted. "Whatever. We're not safe yet."

Lian fell silent for a moment. "Yes. I know."

"And... she still has plenty of time to get angry. Lord knows she'll be angry once she learns what all this was for."

"Good luck with that."

"Thanks. I'll need it."

The boys fell silent. Micah was okay with that. He needed time to think. To process. There was so much on his mind, and he couldn't really talk it out with anyone. Lian wouldn't understand, and Adelaide... well, Adelaide couldn't know anything, or she'd lose her mind.

It was all just so much. Too much.

He couldn't stop thinking about the lives that could be ended soon, thanks to his part in Scythe's plan. He couldn't stop thinking about how Adelaide would never forgive him. And he couldn't stop thinking about how he'd never forgive himself if he gave up on this path of self-discovery.

The clock was ticking. The time to choose a side was rapidly approaching.

Betray his sister?

Or betray Scythe?

Why was this such a hard decision to make? What unseen thing kept him tethered to the greasy, unlikable villain?

He was torn. It was an impossible choice. After all, once he picked a path, he could never turn back. He would have to live a life of crime, or one of lawfulness. He could not do both. He had to make a choice.

But if he put it off any longer...

He feared he wouldn't be able to choose anymore at all.