A life in hiding

Flora's eyes felt heavy, but she opened them slowly. She stared at the sandy, dusty ceiling. The dusty blanket is pushed to the side, showing her bandaged leg. She wanted to get up, but her wound stung as she tried to.

"Ow," Flora said in a meek voice. Her hand glows as she makes a wooden stick. She pushes it against the ground allowing her to get back up. She dispels it and stumbles out of the dark room.

It took Flora 15 minutes, but finally, she managed to get to the first floor and out the front door. Sand is knocked up as people run past her. The Rogues carried bags filled with something and brought them to the storeroom. Flora ignores it and sits down on a chair not far away.

"Hey, Flora, finally awake, are we?" Shade said in a quiet voice right in Flora's face. He got a big smile.

"Why is he being so quiet?" Flora thought, confused by Shade's greeting. He takes a look at her leg.

"Still hurting?" Shade asked. Flora didn't answer. She averted her eyes and wanted to leave, but with her leg, getting back up would be a struggle. Shade, worried over the silence, wanted to ask what was wrong.

"Hello, my fellow rogues. The Hero is back!"

At the top of the cave near the entrance, a man wearing a flashy ornate jacket and short blond hair in tips. His smile is as big as his voice that echoes throughout the cave. Despite all his yelling, no one acknowledges him. The only one who reacts to him is Flora, who is shocked, and Shade, who shakes his head.

"There he goes again. That's Rick. He never shuts up about being a hero. Despite how many times I tell him." His voice gets louder as he yells. "Be quiet!"

Flora almost jumps at Shade's sudden yelling. She had almost only heard him talk in a hushed tone. Shade did catch himself doing it and held his mouth. His face was red with embarrassment, and finally, Flora began to smile and laughs. Surprised by her sudden laughter, Shade lowered his hands and sat beside her.

"Finally smiling." He said in a relaxed tone looking upwards at Rick, who was still boasting. He clenches his fist. It radiates some dark mist. His fist opens into a grasp, and the darkness covers it.

"Dark Grasp."

He extends his hand, and the darkness shoots out towards Rick and grabs him before pulling him downwards. Rick's carried body becomes red. His body liquefies and drips out of the openings of the darkness. Each drop of red liquid on the ground collects and returns to the Ricks' original form.

"That wasn't very nice." Rick is back in his flamboyant pose, now yelling at Shade for stealing his thunder, as he would say.

"Then you shouldn't yell that much." Shade says In his quiet voice with a hint of annoyance. Rick dismisses his orders and leaves for the resting house. Shade turns to Flora.

"You probably like to stay away from him." Shade, seemed concerned for Flora, but she just seemed confused at the statement. The man spoke like he was some hero despite being a rogue.

"Do not forget he is here for a reason. He calls himself a hero, but that's because he kills the corrupted, as he says." Shade explained, his words hitting Flora like a truck. She shoots up from her seat with such speed you would think her leg was healed.

"Killed! He is a murderer!" Her scream was heard throughout the entire cave. Shade ignored her outburst and gave her a nod.

"We are all here for a reason. Are you telling me you are any better?" Shade asks while giving her a look that chilled her to the bone. She stood her ground. "Of course I am!" She yelled.

"I am not like you. I didn't end up here for some selfish reason. I messed up. I know that. I wanted to help Leo!" Her voice is loud and rings throughout the cave. Shade stands up and gets in her face with a finger over her mouth.

"I don't care what you tried to do, and the establishment doesn't either. But don't put us all in the same ring as that guy." He turns away, not wanting to look at Flora anymore. "whether you protected yourself or attacked someone, they treat you the damn same. Like it or not, you are the same." after giving his full opinion, he leaves, almost stomping as he walks.

Now alone, she slumps down on the seat once more. She felt like crying after being yelled at. She took a deep breath. "Why did I react like that." She questioned herself, unable to make sense of herself. "I don't know their story. I don't have any right to judge. I know that. So why did I react like that?"

His words weighed heavy on her mind. She wanted to get some fresh air, but where could she go? She was stuck down there. Her mind finds its way back to Leo.

"I hope he is alright." She looks down at her hand. She clenches it and puts her knuckle against her chest. "I believe the mighty tribe had some kind of ritual bringing forth the strength of the heart."

She presses the knuckle against her chest harder. She does this for 5 minutes before removing it, looking disappointed. "I don't feel any different."