Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

They were in the third room. And it was empty.

Or so Yesu thought.

Her eyes stopped beneath the bed.

A dark trail seeped across the floor from underneath it.

Blood.

She stood motionless.

Seth followed her gaze. The colour drained from his face.

Without a word, Yesu started toward the bed.

"Wait."

Seth caught her arm. His voice had dropped. His expression had become the serious one she usually saw.

His eyes never left the blood.

"I’ll get someone."

He finally managed to pry his eyes away and look at her.

"Don’t move until I get back."

The order came out sharper than he intended.

Yesu frowned slightly.

"Shouldn’t we confirm our suspicions first?"

For a moment Seth simply stared, surprised. His grip loosened.

"Why would you want to do that?"

Yesu blinked. To her, it seemed like a logical thing to do.

After a second, she nodded.

"Okay..."

Seth exhaled.

"...But let’s check something first."

Before he could stop her again, she crouched and lowered herself toward the floor.

Her face disappeared beneath the bed.

She froze.

Seconds passed.

Seth was growing more tense with each one.

"What?"

No response.

He hurried down beside her and looked underneath as well.

A body.

Motionless.

Sprawled awkwardly beneath the bed.

Even in the fading evening light filtering through the broken window and absence of electricity in the room, one thing was unmistakable.

It was completely covered in blood. So much blood.

Seth immediately grabbed Yesu by the arm.

He pulled her to her feet.

"Come on."

He practically dragged her back through the broken wall.

They stepped over Zinesky, who had somehow begun snoring amidst the rubble.

Inside the second room, Seth finally let go.

His breathing was uneven.

"Do. Not. Move."

Then he hurried out.

Yesu remained where she was.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the hole in the wall.

Dust still floated lazily through the opening, obscuring most of the room beyond.

No wonder no one had answered when she’d knocked.

Was that...

...her mystery caller?

If it was then—

Footsteps thundered up the stairs.

The bartender burst into the room first.

Two rough-looking men followed close behind.

Seth entered last.

Without wasting a second, the three men climbed through the broken wall.

One paused beside the unconscious Zinesky.

He struck his boot hard into the ribs of the sleeping man.

"Fucking prick." He cursed in annoyance.

Zinesky merely snored louder.

Seth walked back toward Yesu, concern filled his face.

"Are you alright?"

His words caught in his mouth as he noticed something.

Not only was she fine, she was also stretching slightly, trying to see past the dust.

Yesu didn’t even answer.

And as though nothing had happened, she wandered toward the hole again.

Seth watched as she stepped over the broken concrete.

The three men had pulled the bed aside.

They had not turned in the light bulb despite the darkening.

They stood around the body, speaking in hushed voices. Most of it sounded like meaningless murmurs.

Still, Yesu could make out a few words.

"...when he came..."

"...last week..."

"...CCD’s been watching like hawks..."

"...end of business..."

Another pause.

Then—

"...bury."

"Riverside..."

"Later tonight."

A violent cough shattered the tense atmosphere.

Every head turned.

Zinesky lurched upright in the rubble, coughing violently.

He wiped blood from his mouth and looked around with red eyes.

"Where’s that fucking Echelon brat..."

Then his gaze drifted past them. And met the body.

His face changed.

Slowly, the bartender moved toward him.

Gone was the weary barkeep. Only the gangster remained.

Zinesky immediately began scrambling backward across the floor.

"H-Hey, Trench..." he stammered. "It wasn’t me. You know that."

Trench said nothing.

He kept walking.

Sweat poured down Zinesky’s face.

"I swear." His voice cracked. "I didn’t even know there was somebody in this room."

Still, Trench didn’t stop.

Seth quietly stepped beside Yesu.

’I think you should leave now.’

His voice echoed in her mind.

Yesu acknowledged the telepathic message.

But she didn’t move.

Trench stopped over Zinesky. His expression was terrifyingly calm.

Zinesky shook.

"I have nothing to do with this!"

His frantic eyes darted around the room until they landed on Seth. Hope flashed across his face.

"Ask your nephew!" he blurted, pointing wildly. "I was screwing that bitch Felicia!"

Every head turned toward Seth. Then to Yesu standing beside him.

One of the men narrowed his eyes.

"You’re the girl who knocked Spencer across the room earlier."

He folded his arms.

"What’re you even doing here in the first place?"

Trench’s expression hardened instantly.

"She’s with my nephew." His answer came quickly. Too quickly.

Seth looked at him. His brows knitted together.

Trench ignored him.

He walked past the still-shaking Zinesky until he stood before Yesu.

His hard eyes searched hers.

"Did you speak to him?"

He jerked his head toward the body.

Yesu blinked.

"Is he... was he the one?"

Trench didn’t answer, just kept staring at her strangely.

Behind him, one of the men scratched his beard.

"What about him?" He pointed at Zinesky. "This is the third wall he’s broken this year."

Another chuckled.

"He’s heard everything." A wicked grin spread across his face. "I say we take him along tonight."

Zinesky’s eyes bulged.

Trench rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "Well, he’s already fucked up anyway."

"No!" Zinesky shot to his feet and bolted.

He didn’t get past two steps.

Trench caught him by the back of his underwear.

With one effortless motion—

He hurled him.

Zinesky smashed into the opposite wall.

CRACK!

Chunks of plaster rained down.

He slid to the floor in a groaning heap.

The two men burst into laughter.

"What’s the point of having Super Strength if you’re this useless?"

"Such a loser."

Seth brought a hand to his head. "So embarrassing." He muttered.

Then he faced Yesu.

"Let’s go."

Before they could move, Zinesky staggered upright.

"If you’re getting rid of me..."

He pointed a trembling finger toward Yesu.

"...then take her too!"

Silence.

"She’s seen everything." His breathing became frantic. "She’ll rat all of you out to the CCD!"

The laughter vanished. Every eye shifted to Yesu.

The room became deathly quiet.

Seth instinctively stepped in front of her.

Then—

CRASH!

Something exploded downstairs.

Everyone froze.

Another crash.

Glass shattered. Men shouted. Furniture splintered.

The entire tavern on the ground floor trembled.

"What the hell?" one of the men muttered.

More yelling.

Fists.

Bodies.

Breaking windows.

The fight surged through the second floor next.

Although now it sounded more like a raid.

Then—

Heavy footsteps thundered up the staircase.

Fast.

Purposeful.

Heading for the third floor.

The men in the room instantly rushed past the broken wall.

Only Seth and Yesu remained in the ruined room.

Injured men flew past the door outside like flies.

Then Silence.

The men inside waited for whatever was coming.

One heartbeat.

Two.

A shadow stretched across the doorway.

Then a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside.

Yesu’s eyes widened.

And for the first time that evening, she smiled.

Arrow.

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