274 Corrupted Energy

Friede came running after me. She spread her arms and barred my way. "We are truly sorry we left you back there. We walked out on you. That was not a behavior worthy of a champion. For that, I apologize once more, but you need us as much as we need you." She buried her eyes into mine. I couldn't tell what she was thinking. She always had a resting face. 

"I don't really need you," I retorted. 

"Why seek us if you didn't?" she asked, not a crease formed on her wide forehead. 

"I needed your help to find Rimbaldi's lab. Now I know where it is," I replied, crossing my arms. 

A thin line formed above her eyebrows. "She'll die if that thing comes back again," she told me, pointing at Heda. 

Sylens joined us then. "Let him go," he hissed at Friede. "We'll keep Heda safe while he disposes of the mad scientist for us." He glared at me, and I smiled in return.