After the emotional moment with Cra, the evening stretched on. Shade's muscle aches calmed into a dull throb, a reminder of just how much her body wasn't used to action, let alone a beating.

  By the time they finally sat down to eat, fatigue clung to her like a second skin, but the moment she unwrapped the warm, grease-stained paper in her hands, everything else faded into the background.

  The warehouse's main space wasn't much of a dining area. Just a few crates, a rickety metal table, and some mismatched chairs scattered around. The lighting was dim, flickering overhead with an occasional buzz. It smelled of oil, sweat, and old wood, but right now, all Shade could focus on was the scent of real food.

  She hadn't had anything this fresh in years.

  The burger was warm in her hands, slightly squished from the bag, but perfect. The first bite sent a wave of buttery, salty, cheesy bliss straight to her brain. The soft bun. The way the beef melted in her mouth. The cheese. God, the cheese.

  She barely noticed the way the others watched her until Asher let out a cough. "That good, huh?"

  Shade blinked, swallowing. "Mhm."

  Felix leaned back in his chair, smirking. "Congrats. You've just discovered civilization."

  Helena, sitting cross-legged on a crate, rolled her eyes. "She's gonna eat like Asher now."

  Shade gnced at Asher, who had already torn through half his burger in two bites. He grinned at Helena with his mouth full. "Hey, I eat like a king."

  "You eat like a feral dog."

  "Same difference."

  Shade didn't bother responding. She was too busy stuffing another bite into her mouth. It was messy, too much sauce dripping onto the wax paper in her p, but she couldn't care less. The fries were next. Salty, crispy, soft in the middle. She dipped one into the little pstic container of ketchup Cra had handed her, and for a second, she swore she saw the meaning of life.

  She had no idea how she had survived without this.

  Asher, very clearly amused, nudged her lightly with his elbow. "Make sure you breathe."

  Shade nodded, still chewing.

  His blond hair flopped as he tilted his head. "Damn. What did they even feed you in there?"

  "Blocks," Shade said matter-of-factly.

  "Blocks of what?" Felix asked.

  "Just… blocks." She paused. "They called it a nutritional substitute."

  A collective groan rose from the group.

  Helena looked genuinely disgusted. "That should be illegal."

  "Technically, Bastions aren't bound by standard human rights ws," Rivera commented idly, leaning back against the wall, her dark curls falling over her shoulder. Unlike the others, she ate retively slowly, her movements very deliberate. "They do whatever they want."

  "Yeah, well, their food crimes are unforgivable," Asher muttered.

  Shade huffed and kept eating.

  Despite the worn-down setting, it was oddly comfortable. The low murmur of conversation and the occasional ctter of someone shifting in their chair were nothing like the mealtimes in Bastion. Here, the air felt normal. Like she was part of something, even if just for now. She couldn't really get into befriending any of the other inmates; she knew why they were there, after all.

  She finished eating before realizing it, setting the crumpled wrapper aside. The fullness in her stomach was a rare sensation. She leaned back slightly, arms resting over her legs, taking in the room.

  Felix was still picking at his fries, his sharp features rexed for once. His dark hair, a little unkempt, fell into his eyes as he propped an elbow on the table. Helena had leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm, zily stirring a milkshake with her straw. She pushed her long, white blonde hair behind her ears as she sipped it. For being all sharp edges and dryness, her posture was rexed in a way that made Shade think she wasn’t as tough as she pretended to be. You need to be pretty perceptive to survive in Bastion at 10 years old.

  Rivera, as always, seemed unreadable, and there was nothing more to say about her.

  And then there was Cra.

  Cra, who sat closest to her, had honey blonde hair barely reaching her shoulders. She was too good for a pce like this. Shade had known it from the start. There was a warmth to her that didn’t belong in a dingy warehouse filled with fighters and criminals. And yet, she was here. Why? Shade didn’t know. But part of her was almost afraid to ask for some reason.

  As if sensing her thoughts, Cra touched her lightly. "You look like you’re gonna fall asleep sitting up."

  Shade blinked, shaking herself out of her thoughts. "M’fine."

  "You’re not. And you shouldn’t sleep here," Cra said, standing and dusting off her hands. "Come on."

  Shade frowned. "Where?"

  Cra arched a brow. "You think I sleep here?"

  Shade gnced around at the warehouse. The mismatched sleeping arrangements in the back, the stiff-looking cots, and the bnkets piled in corners. The pce wasn’t a dump, but it wasn’t comfortable either.

  "You don’t?" Shade asked.

  Cra shook her head. "I have a hotel nearby. You’re coming with me."

  Asher chuckled. "Yeah, Miss Fancy Pants is too good to sleep here."

  Felix smirked. "A bed that isn’t made of concrete? Shade’s getting that pretty privilege."

  Shade hesitated. The idea of a real bed, of any bed, was almost too much. "I don’t want to intrude."

  "You’re not," Cra said firmly. "And I’m not leaving you here on your first night."

  Something about the way she said it left no room for argument. And maybe, just maybe, Shade didn’t want to argue. She was spent, and the idea of a quiet space, away from here, was too tempting to pass up.

  She stood, and Cra smiled slightly before leading the way out.

  ---

  The hotel wasn’t far. It's not high-end, but it's not a rundown hole, either. The room was small but clean: two beds, a simple desk, and a tiny bathroom.

  Shade stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do with herself. Cra, already moving, tossed her bag onto a chair and turned back to her. "Shower’s free if you want it."

  Shade’s first instinct was to say no. She had showered in Bastion, of course, but it had never been a comfortable experience. Always cold. Always quick.

  But here… here, it was different.

  "Yeah," Shade said quietly. "Okay."

  She stepped into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. The hum of the overhead light filled the space, and she turned toward the mirror.

  For the first time in a while, she actually looked at herself.

  Bruises still lined her jaw. Her hair, dark and uneven from a poor attempt at cutting it months ago, hung messily over her face. The eyes staring back at her were tired, hollowed out by years of isotion.

  Slowly, she reached for the faucet and turned the sink on. She let the water run over her hands until it eventually got warm, then spshed some on her face. Dirt and grime ran down the drain as she did so. The feeling of warm water against her skin made her genuinely happy. Although not as much as the food did earlier.

  The thought of taking a shower in warm water made her turn off the sink and quickly move toward the shower. Pulling the curtain back, a very complex-looking handle exposed itself. She pulled it, but nothing happened, so she twisted it to the right. Nothing. The same was true the other way.

  Shade scowled at the shower handle. Was there some kind of trick to it? She twisted it again, slower this time, trying every possible angle, but nothing happened.

  She exhaled through her nose. Seriously? A hotel was supposed to be better than a prison, but right now, she was starting to have doubts.

  After a few more failed attempts, she gave up. Pulling the towel from the rack, she wiped her damp hands, squared her shoulders, and stepped out of the bathroom.

  "Hey, Cra-"

  She stopped mid-sentence.

  Cra was on the floor, sitting cross-legged on a towel near the bed. She reached one arm overhead, stretching to the side, then smoothly shifted into another pose, pulling her knee toward her chest. She was still wearing the same spandex as earlier, and her hair was slightly messy from the long day.

  Shade hadn't really thought about what Cra did in her free time, but now she knew at least one thing.

  Cra gnced up. "Something wrong?"

  Shade rubbed the back of her neck. "The shower. It won’t turn on."

  Cra sighed, unfolding her legs and standing. "You turned it all the way?"

  "I turned it every way."

  Cra stepped past her, into the bathroom. Shade followed as she reached for the handle, twisted it a certain way, and water burst from the showerhead instantly, steam curling into the air.

  Shade stared. "What. The hell."

  Cra smirked. "You just had to turn it up, not sideways."

  "Stupid design."

  Cra shrugged. "Figured you’d need help." She backed out of the bathroom, stretching her arms over her head again. "Hurry up. I’m waiting for my turn."

  Shade gnced at the towel on the floor and realized she hadn’t wanted to sit on the clean bed before showering. That made sense.

  She turned back to the now-running shower, wanting to enjoy it while it sted.

  ---

  Shade exited the bathroom feeling like a new woman.

  Her hair was still damp, the hotel towel wrapped around her shoulders as she stepped into the room. The warmth of the shower lingered on her skin, a contrast to the cold, sterile rinses she’d been used to in Bastion. She almost felt human again.

  Cra was already up, grabbing her things. "Feel better?"

  "Yeah," Shade admitted.

  Cra didn’t comment further, just nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. The sound of running water started up again a moment ter.

  Shade hesitated, then moved toward the bed Cra had left untouched. It was firm, and the bnket was tucked neatly beneath her as she sat down. Her achy body slowly sank into the mattress, her pain withering away.

  Her body wanted to colpse, but her mind still buzzed with everything that had happened. She was here. Out. Not in a cell. Not eating alone or lying on a hard sb in a pce full of vilins.

  She pulled the bnket over her legs, shifting to get comfortable. By the time Cra emerged from the bathroom, hair damp and smelling faintly of hotel soap, Shade was already halfway asleep.

  Cra flicked off the light. "Night."

  Shade mumbled something in response, already slipping under.

  6:00 A.M.

  The morning came too soon.

  Shade stirred at the sound of movement, blinking groggily against the early light filtering through the curtains. She was used to waking up early; her body had been conditioned for it, but yesterday, it had drained her more than she had realized. Her limbs felt heavy, and for a moment, she just y there, staring at the ceiling, adjusting to the unfamiliar sensation of waking up in an actual bed.

  Cra was already up, sitting near the desk as she ced up her shoes. She gnced over when she noticed Shade moving. "Morning."

  Shade exhaled slowly, pushing herself up. "Morning."

  Cra smirked. "Tired?"

  Shade rolled her shoulders, working out the stiffness. "Sore."

  "Yeah, that'll happen." Cra stood, stretching her arms over her head. "Rivera’s waiting. You should get ready."

  Shade ran a hand through her hair and sighed. The brief comfort of the bed was already fading, repced by the weight of the day ahead. No use putting it off.

  "Yeah," she muttered, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

  ---

  The ride back to the warehouse was quiet.

  Cra had swung through a drive-thru, grabbing them both something quick. It was breakfast sandwiches, hashbrowns, and coffee. Shade wasn’t sure anything could top st night’s meal, but the greasy, salty food was still better than anything she’d had in years. She ate in silence, watching the city pass by through the window. It still felt surreal, being out here, moving freely, eating real food.

  Cra, ever the efficient driver, barely slowed as she moved through the streets, one hand on the wheel, the other casually holding her coffee. Shade noticed she hadn’t bothered with her sandwich yet, probably waiting until they stopped.

  Before long, they pulled up to the warehouse. The morning light made it look even rougher than it had the night before: weathered metal, cracked pavement, and a general air of temporary living situation. Shade was starting to understand why Cra preferred a hotel.

  Cra parked and killed the engine. "You ready?"

  Shade crumpled up the empty wrapper in her hands, wiping the grease off onto her pants. "No."

  Cra huffed a quiet ugh. "Too bad."

  With that, they got out of the car and headed inside.

  The warehouse was already stirring by the time they stepped inside. Conversations buzzed in low voices, the occasional cng of metal or shifting crates filling the space. The smell of oil, dust, and stale air was more pungent in the morning, like the pce had been sitting too long without fresh air. A few overhead lights flickered, adding to the sense of wear, though it seemed to function well enough for the people calling it home.

  Felix sat at the metal table from st night, scrolling through his phone with a bored expression, a cup of coffee resting beside him. Helena perched on a crate nearby, tying up her long, white-blonde hair with a zy expression. Asher, surprisingly, wasn’t making his presence known.

  Cra tossed her keys onto a crate and stretched her arms. "Well, we're back."

  Felix barely gnced up. "And still alive. Impressive."

  Shade ignored him, finishing off the st of her coffee as she followed Cra further inside. She didn’t miss the way Rivera spotted her almost immediately.

  Unlike the others, Rivera wasn’t lounging. She stood near a makeshift workspace at the back, arms crossed, studying the warehouse with that same unreadable expression. Her dark curls were damp, probably from a quick rinse with freezing water, considering this pce. She didn’t waste time approaching.

  "Shade," she said. Not a greeting. A summons.

  Shade resisted the urge to sigh, setting down her empty cup.

  Cra hesitated. "You want me to-"

  "No," Rivera said, not even looking at her. "She’s fine."

  Cra didn’t argue, just nodded and stepped away, leaving Shade to follow Rivera toward the back of the warehouse.

  The area wasn’t private, but it was quieter. A weathered desk was shoved against a pile of crates, covered in scattered papers, maps, and an old ptop.

  Rivera didn’t waste time. She leaned against the desk, arms still crossed. "How much control do you have over your gift?"

  Shade tensed slightly. No build-up. No concern. Just straight to business.

  "Not much," she admitted. No point in lying.

  Rivera’s gaze was sharp. "Figures. You’ve had years to rot, not train."

  Shade said nothing.

  Rivera uncrossed her arms, gesturing slightly. "We don’t have time for slow progress. You either catch up fast, or you’re dead weight."

  Shade clenched her jaw. "I didn’t ask to be here."

  "You think that matters?" Rivera’s tone was as ft as ever. "We need you. Your ability, whether you like it or not, makes you useful. But only if you’re trained. So, you’re going to train."

  Shade crossed her arms. "Just like that?"

  "Just like that," Rivera said. "Your gift is strong. I know that much. But raw power means nothing without control. You’re a liability. We don't want another massacre."

  The words were blunt, almost clinical, but they weren’t wrong. Shade knew she had no real grasp on her ability. Bastion had made sure of that.

  Rivera watched her for a moment before pushing off the desk. "Training starts now."

  Shade blinked. "Now?"

  "Yes, now." Rivera’s expression didn’t change. "I don’t waste time, and neither should you."

  And yes, just like that, Shade realized she wasn’t getting a break today.

  Shade barely had time to brace herself before Rivera turned on her heel and strode across the warehouse. There was no chance to argue. Shade followed, pulse steady but stomach twisting with something she refused to call nerves.

  The others barely spared them a gnce. Still lounging on her crate, Helena arched a brow but didn’t comment. Felix watched with mild curiosity before looking back at his phone.

  Rivera led her past the scattered sleeping arrangements and the piles of gear toward a more open section of the warehouse. The floor here was cracked concrete, stained from whatever this pce used to be. It was empty except for a few crates pushed to the side and a set of overhead lights, flickering like they couldn’t decide whether to stay on.

  Rivera stopped and turned to face her. "We’re starting with the basics."

  Shade folded her arms. "And what, exactly, are the basics?"

  Rivera rolled her shoulders, stretching her arms in a way that cracked her joints. "Knowing what you’re capable of. Then pushing past it." She tilted her head. "You don’t know, do you?"

  Shade kept her expression neutral. "I know enough."

  Rivera’s smirk was cold. "Doubt it."

  She took a step back, pnting her feet. There was a shift in the air, something heavy pressing against the space between them. Shade didn’t flinch, but she felt the sheer weight of Rivera’s presence when she was about to strike.

  "Attack me," Rivera said.

  Shade blinked. "What?"

  Rivera raised a brow. "Did I stutter?"

  Shade’s fingers twitched at her sides. "That’s not how this works."

  Rivera scoffed. "Then how does it work?"

  Shade clenched her jaw. "I don’t just 'turn it on'. It’s not that easy."

  "Then figure it out."

  Before Shade could respond, Rivera moved.

  She barely caught the shift in time. A blur of motion, Rivera was in her space, a fist aimed straight for her ribs. Shade’s body reacted before her mind did, and she twisted, stepping back as Rivera’s strike skimmed past her.

  But Rivera didn’t stop. Another hit, faster this time, aimed at her shoulder. Shade ducked, rolling away before she could catch the full force of the blow. She nded on her feet, breathing sharply.

  "Not bad," Rivera said. "But not good, either."

  Shade’s muscles were already tensing, every instinct screaming at her to run or fight. But she wasn’t ready. The power inside her wasn’t something she could just summon on command.

  Rivera studied her, expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she lunged again.

  This time, Shade wasn’t fast enough. A kick caught the back of her knee, knocking her bance out from under her. She hit the ground hard, her palms scraping against the rough concrete.

  "Horrendous," Rivera said.

  Shade pushed herself up, breathing through the sting in her hands.

  Rivera sighed. "You hesitate too much."

  "You’re the one attacking me," Shade snapped.

  "And you’re the one not fighting back." Rivera stepped closer, looking down at her. "Your power is there. I know it is. You’ve used it before. What triggered it?"

  Shade’s breath caught in her throat.

  Rivera tilted her head. "Pain?"

  Shade clenched her fists.

  "Fear?"

  Shade shoved herself to her feet, gring. "You don’t know anything about me."

  Rivera’s gaze was steady. "I don’t need to. I’ve seen enough people like you to know that if you don’t start using your power on your own terms, it’ll use you instead."

  Shade’s pulse pounded in her ears. She wanted to argue, to throw something back in Rivera’s face, but the words stuck.

  "Again," Rivera said.

  Shade took a breath.

  Within the time it took her to exhale, Rivera was on her again. A strike snapped toward her ribs, faster than before, forcing her to twist away. But she wasn’t quite fast enough; Rivera’s follow-up was already coming. A sweep to the legs. Shade barely caught herself, stumbling back.

  "Sloppy," Rivera said, her tone indistinct. "You’re too reactive. No control. No intent."

  Shade gritted her teeth. "I’m trying."

  "Try harder." Rivera stepped forward, her presence pressing against Shade like an oncoming storm. "You think you’ll survive out there by dodging forever? You can’t just avoid a fight. You have to end it."

  Shade centered herself, breathing steadily. "I don’t even know how to-"

  "Yes, you do," Rivera interrupted, circling her like a predator. "You’ve done it before. But you don’t know why it worked, do you?"

  Shade said nothing.

  Rivera exhaled sharply, like she was dealing with a particurly dense recruit. "Your power, your gift, runs on essence."

  Shade frowned. "Hm?"

  "The energy inside you," Rivera said. "It’s not just there to fre up when you’re panicking. It’s fuel. Power. You have to use it, not let it use you."

  Shade shifted her stance, uneasy. She’d never been taught anything about her ability. She just knew it happened.

  "How?" she asked.

  Rivera’s smirk was cold. "You start by feeling it. Your body knows what to do. You just keep fighting it."

  And then, without warning, Rivera struck again.

  A palm smmed into Shade’s chest, sending her skidding back across the concrete. The impact rattled through her bones, knocking the breath from her lungs.

  "Feel it," Rivera said, stepping forward. "That burn in your limbs? The pressure behind your ribs? That’s essence. You have plenty of it, you just don’t know how to release it yet, reasonably."

  Shade pushed herself up, coughing. She did feel something. A strange, simmering heat beneath her skin, tingling at her fingertips, coiling in her gut like it was waiting for something.

  Rivera didn’t give her time to recover. She was already moving again, her fist arcing toward Shade’s head.

  This time, Shade didn’t think.

  The heat in her veins surged. Her body moved before her mind could catch up, twisting in a way that felt too fast. She avoided the strike by inches, her foot firmly pnting as she spun-

  And for the first time, she countered.

  Her fist flew toward Rivera’s side, and for a split second, Shade felt the shift- the essence moving with her, snapping through her muscles like an uncoiling wire. But before she could nd the hit, Rivera caught her wrist, stopping her cold.

  Shade couldn't even blink before Rivera yanked her forward and drove a knee into her stomach.

  Pain exploded through her ribs. Shade hit the ground, gasping.

  Rivera crouched beside her, completely unaffected. "Better," she said. "But still pathetic."

  Shade curled her fingers against the floor, breath ragged. The heat inside her was still there, pulsing faintly. It wanted to move.

  Rivera leaned in slightly. "You felt it, didn’t you?"

  Shade swallowed. "Mmm."

  "Good." Rivera stood. "Now get up. We’re doing it again."

  Shade groaned, pushing herself upright. Her ribs ached, her limbs were shaking, but something in her refused to back down.

  She could feel it now.

  She just had to learn how to use it.