87 Difficult

It was late into the day, evident by the orange tint of the sky. Two figures made their way through the yard.

Helpless as he walked towards the car, while beside him she bounced with her steps. That was until she came to a halt.

It's aura was lucid, and full of misfortune. It wasn't her aura, but the radius of death. When the intensity wasn't concentrated into one place, it was like an orb of ripples around her.

It was then that it felt like a sudden torrent. The formidable power behind it spewed out from within her, and it only grew tense as she tried to keep it at the same distance.

Her eyebrows furrowed. Worry plagued her confused mind, noticing it expand, and the ripples turn into waves. Trying to retract it worked, but only barely, for a moment she could only hold it at about 4 feet away.

What happened? Why has it become so inconsistent? It gave way to a fear within her that she was losing control of it.

By the time it had fully stabilized, Arius had noticed.

"Zuna?" Arius turned towards her. The question brought her back and her expression relaxed at the sound of Arius's voice.

"I don't think we can go." Zuna shook her head and spoke solemnly.

"What's the matter?" Arius's assumption that she was only nervous was disproven by the confusion that Zuna had briefly shown.

"I'm not sure." Zuna hesitated. "The death Radius, just a second ago, it was like it reverted back 200 years."

Arius narrowed his eyes in contemplation. "What do you mean? What was it like 200 years ago?"

"I don't know!" Zuna shrugged in vexation. "It was just- less tame."

"Is it so bad that you can't go see Tibet?" Arius couldn't determine the severity of the situation, due to the vague response.

"Well no, but it might happen again, and even worse." Zuna pursed her lips. Her fear for what could happen was swiftly turning into agitation, and then dissipating. "I didn't think much about it, but it did something strange at Elizabeth's house too...!"

"And what happened at that time?" Arius ran his hand through his hair, scratching his head while he thought.

"It was weird. For a full 10 minutes I could completely retract it!" Zuna spoke carelessly, forgetting to add that there was a moment in between at which she released it.

"So it hasn't happened before then?" Arius helplessly watched as she slowly lost her concern for the matter.

"Nope." Zuna shook her head.

"Odd." Arius nodded, and after some thought he still headed for the car. "Then, we'll figure this out after we're back."

"We're still going?" Zuna followed after him.

"Well, it's not as of it will happen again in such a short time frame." Arius spoke, and Zuna felt that he made some sense.

As decided, the duo went on their way.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It looked like a rundown shack in the urban town. That was the place, evident by the sign on the roof which read "24/7 Sandwiches". And, their businesses definitely wasn't booming.

Rather than entering through the front like Arius had thought they would, Zuna dragged him towards the back.

At the back, there was a mail box just a few feet from the building, and a "Home Sweet Home" sign hanging on the door. The yellow and blue painted walls were chipped and the welcome mat was torn to bits. It was something you might see after an apocalypse.

Seeing Arius at a standstilll, Zuna pushed him forward to knock. He tapped the door with the back of his hand, and the sound seemed to echo in the quietness of the makeshift home.

There was the creek of the door opening and then- "Phew!"

"Thank the lord! It's you fella's! I thought they was here to collect..." Jeffery gave a sigh of relief, and then preceded to stick his head out to look left and right, just to make sure.

"Heh, why can't you just pay your bills on time?" Zuna was amused.

"No! It ain't the bank this time! I swear!" Jeffery laughed a bit before he sighed. "Damn Tibet, he's bein' difficult."

Zuna frowned. "Can you tell him I'm sorry?"

"A 'Course he already known." Jeffery left the door open for them as he walked in. "Thing is..."