Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

For the first time that evening, Yesu smiled.

Arrow.

His eyes quickly scanned the smoke-filled room, searching.

Yesu knew he couldn’t see her through the smoke as his spectacles were cracked.

The men made a move forward.

Arrow visibly tensed in preparation. His eyes narrowed coldly in concentration.

He looked completely different from the relaxed man Yesu had come to get used to.

Cool.

Completely hostile.

There were spots of blood on his corporate shirt. The once well-ironed material now carried deep wrinkles.

"Who are you?" one of the men demanded.

Sparks of electricity began flickering wildly around both of his fists, briefly lighting up the room.

Then Arrow saw Yesu standing on the other side of the broken wall.

His sharp eyes softened.

Only a little.

Then they hardened again as they swept over her from head to toe, checking for any sign of injury.

Yesu crossed over.

She quickly shoved herself between the men and stopped directly in front of him.

Arrow looked down at her.

They held each other’s gaze for a few silent seconds.

Around them, the men were beginning to understand what they were looking at.

"Are you hurt?" Arrow asked in his usual practical manner. But the concern in his voice was obvious.

Yesu slowly shook her head.

"No."

His eyes searched her once more. Just to make sure. Then the tension left his shoulders completely.

He looked back at the men.

"I apologize for the interruption."

His voice was curt. He wasn’t the least bit apologetic.

No one knew how to respond.

"Let’s go."

Arrow spoke without looking away from them.

Yesu opened her mouth to say something.

Arrow’s gaze immediately shifted to her.

The hostility he had directed at the men lingered in his eyes.

She quietly closed her mouth again then walked toward the door.

Arrow remained where he was, standing between her and everyone else.

Yesu stopped at the doorway.

She looked back at Seth. Nothing to see there, just as serious-looking as always.

Then her eyes shifted to Trench.

Despite the hardened expression and gangster act, he looked tense in Arrow’s presence.

That alone told Yesu everything she needed to know.

Trench knew something.

About them.

About Millie.

About the mystery caller who had somehow died before she could speak with him.

She turned and walked out.

Only after hearing her footsteps retreat into the corridor did Arrow move.

He followed without another word.

"Fucking bastard."

The man wielding electricity instantly growled and stepped forward in a bid to go after him.

"Stop."

Trench’s order came surprisingly calm.

The man froze.

"He just wrecked business." the second man said incredulously. "Not to mention the men."

"Let them leave." Trench’s voice remained even.

The room fell silent.

They all stared at him.

Normally, he would never have let something like this slide.

"Why?" one of them demanded. "You scared of some upperclassman now?"

Trench didn’t react.

"We have other pressing matters."

Every eye instinctively shifted toward the hole in the wall.

Toward the third room.

Their anger visibly cooled down.

Seth muttered something beneath his breath and started toward the exit.

"Hey, kid." The first man called after him. "Not gonna help clean up?"

Seth glanced at him.

"We could use that strength of yours." He continued then jerked his thumb toward the still-cowering Zinesky and scoffed. "This coward here ain’t worth shit."

"Find someone else." Seth snapped and continued on his way.

"Camden."

Trench called.

Seth stopped and looked back.

"Save it." His voice remained calm but strained. "I’m only here to get Grandfather."

Without waiting for a response, he left.

Trench watched the doorway long after he had disappeared.

"He used to be so respectful." the first man muttered. "You should’ve never let him go to that fancy school."

Trench’s eyes never left the door.

"Back to work."

***

Yesu stepped into the corridor and stopped.

Men.

They were everywhere.

Some lay flat on the floor. Others leaned weakly against the walls, clutching bruised ribs or bloody noses. A few groaned softly.

She looked back.

Arrow had just stepped out of the room.

He met her eyes briefly.

She faced forward again and carefully stepped over the nearest unconscious man.

The staircase wasn’t any better.

Bodies hung awkwardly over the railings. One man had somehow fallen halfway across the steps, blocking almost the entire staircase.

Yesu slowed down.

Were they dead? Or merely unconscious?

At this point, it was difficult to tell the difference.

Then one of the men suddenly lurched sideways.

"Hurgh—"

Green vomit splashed onto the stairs, the pungent smell of stale alcohol instantly filling the air.

Yesu quietly stepped around it.

They continued downstairs.

The tavern looked nothing like it had when she had arrived earlier.

The little decorative lights she’d admired earlier now hung shattered from the ceiling. The room was darker, colder.

The cheerful music was somehow still playing although it sounded completely out of place now.

Like the upper floors, the ground floor was littered with defeated men.

Some stirred weakly.

Others didn’t move at all.

Broken bottles and shattered glasses covered almost every part of the wooden floor.

Yesu watched every step she took, trying not to tread on the sharp fragments.

Arrow didn’t bother.

His polished shoes deliberately crushed the broken glass beneath them.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Yesu found herself stealing another glance at him.

His expression hadn’t changed. Neither had his pace.

Only then did Yesu notice the injuries on him. There weren’t many, just a few visible cuts and blood stains.

She looked around the tavern again and wondered how one man could have done something like this.

Moments later, they stepped out into the evening air.

Across the street, a small crowd had gathered.

People stood watching Ells’ Tavern from a safe distance.

They looked curious, almost amused. Not at all frightened.

Apparently, fights here weren’t unusual.

The moment Arrow and Yesu emerged, people began drifting away, conversations resuming as though the night’s entertainment had ended.

Arrow’s car sat parked a block away. He headed straight for it.

Yesu followed.

Though she couldn’t stop herself from looking back at Ells’ Tavern one more time.

She was soon lagging behind.

A small child—no older than seven—came sprinting along the pavement, bundled tightly against the cold.

He rushed past Arrow, who had already reached the car.

Just before reaching Yesu, the boy stumbled on a shallow pothole.

He caught himself instantly, never breaking stride.

Then he bumped lightly into her shoulder.

"Sorry."

At the same time, something tiny and folded slipped neatly into her palm.

The boy kept running. He never looked back.

Yesu stared after him.

"Kaelitha."

Arrow’s voice brought her around. He stood beside the passenger door, already holding it open for her.

Without thinking, Yesu closed her fingers around the folded paper and quietly walked toward him.

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