To no one's surprise, before their chat about the weather could tihey first had to deal with the spooked civilians. Not that they were the only ones who had to rex. From what Leo noticed, a few of the fighters weren't fairing much better. Though that might have been more of his fault than the Brute's.

  Again, he didn't worry too much. What he did here had a purpose. Most of the people in the group didn’t know him, but from now on, they would think twice before even thinking of going against him. Also, he wao remind Holden again that he didn't appreciate what happened back at ReachHope.

  The Fallen and the Asded didn't say anything to aowledge what just happened. But going by the looks he had received from them, they definitely got the hidden message. Which was more than enough for him, at least for now...

  Despite the screaming and numerous pints, within a few miheir journey tihis time, Leo stayed at the front and slowly expined his s about the weather to the evolved duo. He had to tell a few half-truths to keep his more plicated secrets, but overall, he told them most of what he knew.

  "We 't dey the move any longer, Hale," Holden ran a hand across his face. "I don't have enough Ether to prolong the old Safe Zone's life. And even if I did, it's currently at eight pert stability. I doubt it will st through the night or even today."

  All fair points, but still. Leo sighed. "We might not have a choice if something worse than the rain es. Besides, it's not like you absolutely need a safe zoo hide from danger. I survived the sed night's storm in an abandoned building."

  I probably shouldn't mention that the fug thing could have colpsed on my head at any moment.

  "Aye, the beasty is right," Frank joined in the versation. "If the bloody weather catches us with our pants down, we clear a random building and wait it out there. Only the supplies will go to hell in that case."

  That solves the issue for those outside. ly who I'm worried about. Leo shook his head. "That's great and all, but what about those back at the old site? You said it yourself, Holden. That safe zone is almost dead."

  Only the humming of the falling rain filled the silence as the two leaders mulled over his question.

  "The basement," Holden finally muttered. "It should be rge enough to hide everyone remaining if necessary. It has only two entrances and no windows. If we barricade it well enough, Nightmares might not get anywhere hem."

  Might... How I sometimes hate this word. Leo scowled but didn't say anything right away. After all, without a Safe Zone, surviving anht is always a 'might,' never a promise. Hiding and barrig sure helped, but if a Nightmare decided to dig deeper, nothing could stop it fr.

  "That's one backup pn. I'd rather have a few more," he stated, his mind als to e up with some good ideas. Adam's and Ava's life depended on it.

  Frank hummed. "How long would it take ya to run back to ReachHope from the new pce?"

  Leo mulled over the question, recalling all the trips he had taken through the city over the past few days. He had never really used his full speed bined with Reinfort and some Limit Break just to travel, but if he had to guess...

  "Five or ten mi most if I ignore everything in the way," he o no one in particur, quite sure of his predi.

  "Well, there you go," Frank cpped him on the shoulder. "They hide in the basement, and if it's not dark yet, you run back to che them. That's the start of a good pn if I say so."

  Both Leo and Holden gave the Fallen a doubtful look. A start it might be, but of a good pn? Not so much. They didn't voice their thoughts though. After all, they still had some time to e up with somethier.

  "Would you look at that, beasty," Frank announced as the new Safe Zone came into sight. "We arrived, and it ain't even raining anymore."

  Leo rolled his eyes at the smug expression on the Fallen's face. Sure, the rain might have stopped, but the clouds didn't go anywhere. He would even argue that they got worse as the time passed. Barely any sunlight got through at this point.

  "The calm before the storm," he whispered. "There is a reason why this sayis. The question is how long this calm will st this time..."

  The Fallen huffed. "Bloody hell, you are almost as bad as Tony."

  "That's enough, Frank," Holden growled when they passed through the safe zone's boundary. "Let's get everyoled in and run it back. Hale is right. There is no time to waste. The stability is down to five pert already."

  Shit.

  Unlike Leo, the Falle his displeasure be known as he muttered a string of curses. As soon as he fihe man barked orders to the whole group, leaving no pce for pints.

  They all quickly spilled into the small building attached to the warehouse, everybody carrying a few boxes from the pallet. However, before they could move any further, two survivors blocked their path in the corridor.

  "Allen, Reed," Holdeed the two men. "Any issues?"

  Tyler shook his head. "Nothing. Vodilings didn't even dare to e close during the night."

  Wheher survivor nodded, Holden grunted. "Good. Allen, go and help with the supplies. Reed, with us."

  Both men nodded, and while Tyler moved toward the exit, the other mahem into the warehouse. He showed them a pce cleared of any debris, ready to receive the boxes they all carried. Apparently, Holden gave them some stuff to d the night as the pce overall seemed er.

  Still a lot of work ahead of them if they want to make this pce livable... For now though, we have three mroups to escort. Nothing else matters till then.

  The way back to ReachHope took a lot less time than Leo expected. Despite having Holden, Frank, and a few other survivors slow him down, they all moved swiftly without taking even a single break. Voidlings didn't pose a threat to them, and so they made their way through the city faster than a car sometimes could.

  A familiar blond-haired woman — Diana, if he remembered correctly — greeted them at the entrance. Or rather, she only weled Holden and ght into the business as if no one else was there.

  "Everything is prepared, Tony," she spoke as they walked towards the warehouse. "I mao add a few boxes with essentials. It will make the package a bit heavier, but worth it in the long run."

  Holden nodded. "And the people?"

  "Afraid but waiting for ynal."

  "Excellent." He turo the Fallen, "Frank, go gather everyone ahem outside. I will join you soon. Diana and I o discuss what we spoke about on the way."

  "Hale," the Asded looked him in the eyes wheopped at the warehouse's entrance. "Please let Ava know to slowly get Adam ready for the move. I want them to be fully prepared once we get back."

  "Sure," Leo mock saluted and walked away. Either way, he should probably give Adam another shot of Esseo ehe boy remained calm for the rest of the day.

  "The rest of you," he still heard Holden say in the distance. "Assume usual positions a for the time being."

  More words were exged, but Leo tuhem out. One, he could barely hear them anymore, and two, he didn't care. He had a few mio spend with his remaining family again and didn't pn to waste them.

  Like always, Adam tried to crush him with a hug uporance, but even as a level he boy was far from strong enough to do that. Ava might not have been as excited, but the relief in her eyes was evident with just one look.

  They talked for as long as the short break allowed, but when a knock souhrough the room, they all khe time . And so, with a promise to be back soon and a message from Holden given, he left them behind once more.

  Only one mroup. Stop w so much, you idiot. Yet even as he tried to vince himself that everything would be fine, another part of him couldn't stop juring the worst sarios possible.

  Fine, he growled. Nyx!

  'Yes?' The feline answered, alert as always. 'Is it time already?'

  No... ge of pns. You stay here. Observe, and if something happens, protect them before I get here. Otherwise I won't be able to focus on anything else.

  'As you wish. But Leo...' Nyx hesitated to tinue for a moment. 'Do you really think this pce will fall before you return?'

  You heard Holden. Leo grunted. Only about five pert stability remains. I don't want to even think of this pce failing, but... Remember what I said once? If something g, it will. I am just taking precautions.

  'Uood. I will watch over them.'

  Thanks. He smiled, only for the smile to be wiped off his face wheepped outside the building. Would you look at that? The rain is back. Great...

  Uhe guise of stretg his legs and killing boredom, Leo stayed a good pace ahead of the group, sughtering every Voidling in sight. While the reasons he gave Holden wereirely false, they were also far from the truth. After all, he couldn't tell them someone had to take over Nyx's job.

  You again? Leo scowled as four Seekers once more circled above the group. Last time, a simple roar from him had them running, but now, they stayed but tacked. Ah.. I see why...

  A familiar screech pierced the air, followed by a Harpy bounding towards the sky, seeking its new prey. Without fail, the beast zeroed in on him and dived, talons at the ready.

  Dumb bird. He rolled his eyes, half a dozen shadow spears f around him. The moment the Harpy got within firing rahe structs shot forward, g its prey.

  The beast howled, blood joining with the rain as it fell to the ground along with the Voidling. It crashed feet or two away from Leo in a heap of broken bones.

  His bde extended, ready to finish the Harpy's struggles, but something stopped him short.

  A thundercp split the air, followed by a fsh of crimson lightning rag across the sky. The raindrops turned bck within a sed as the world also darkehe visibility only slightly better than at night. Though with the tact fshes of lightning, that wasn't much of a problem.

  No. This is the fug problem.

  WARNING! The influence of the Void has altered the formation of a local storm. Assessment: Eclipse Void Storm (Rank F) in progress.

  WARNING! Nightmares are waking for the duration of the Eclipse Storm. Due to the sudden disturband time of the day, their strength has been limited to 70%.

  The System reends finding shelter immediately. Good Luck.

  And then the screams began.

  Chaos65