A Fire Unquenchable

"G-Get him!", Stella threw aside her pride and had her men swarm Top Dog. Several elites launched forward, various abilities leapt to subdue Top Dog. He gave a side glance towards these elites but didn't bother to move. For some of them, upon looking at Top Dog's eyes they froze. A primal instinct of fear gripped their movement and didn't let go.

It wasn't like the Street Dogs were going to stand by idly. Several of them jumped to launch a counter attack. One of the Enforcers grabbed two people and slammed them into the ground, "We'll make sure they don't bother you Boss!"

Top Dog took another step forward. Stella hastily checked her surroundings, but this alleyway was essentially a dead end. There was a way out, a door to one of the buildings stood like a savior. Without hesitation she dashed towards the door and opened it. Yet found her efforts were stopped dead short, of course this door would be locked! Her fingers began to twitch and faint clicking noises formed by the doorknob, but this sound was masked by the fighting.

In her haste Stella made several mistakes. If she was a bit more careful, perhaps she would've made it out of this situation. A shame that wasn't the case.

Bang-!

Top Dog's fist created an indent on the door. Stella froze up in fright. Slowly she turned her head and saw Top Dog's massive figure towering over her. Slumping against the wall she extended her hands, "L-Listen!"

"Don't waste your breath.", Top Dog said coldly.

His foot slammed into Stella's gut. Such force she wasn't used to, it felt like her organs burst apart then and there. Stepping back Top Dog let Stella double over. She coughed involuntarily and found a steady flow of blood escape past her lips. Concern immediately filled her mind, what kind of damage did she receive for her to vomit like this?

Top Dog's voice lacked sympathy, "I didn't take ya to be the kind to make reckless choices. Approaching my gang when we just became promoted, now teaming up with Violet Wave? Risky move, terrible execution."

Crouching down Top Dog's voice rumbled, "And now look at you. Such calculated decisions."

Stella was unwilling to let it end like this, "You best kill me then. Else it'll spell the end for your gang!"

"Oh this shit. Who do you think is going to take the blame for all of this? Violet Wave, who is missing their leader? My Street Dogs, who was the one attacked from two ends? Or how about you, who still has their leader standing?"

Stella came to a realization. Although Top Dog's words were simple and crude, they held a significant amount of truth to them. Now that Tsunami was dead the blame for the two gangs was going to be shifted to her. Could she blame the Street Dogs? Not likely, excusing the fact that Ghost Hand was most definitely going to investigate this, the Street Dogs made their presence known almost immediately when they moved. Such a large group moving in their territory was going to gain several eyes. Additionally there wasn't a lack of citizens who would suck up to a Quadrant. Telling Ghost Hand what they saw was a trivial matter.

She had vastly miscalculated this whole ordeal.

Top Dog stood up, "Now you best get treated, losing that much blood might just kill you."

Stella's eyes gleamed at this moment. There was a way out, if she died! Her death wouldn't end Royal Dominion, she had prepared for such an eventuality. Rather once she died there was no one left to take the blame except the Street Dogs. Ghost Hand wasn't some omniscient forgiver. If the Street Dogs had crippled two Districts there was a high chance Ghost Hand would be very displeased. After all this directly affected their reputation, income, and control.

Yet. . . she wavered. She didn't want to die, she didn't have the guts to do that. This was a fleeting thought. There was still so much more she wished to do, she couldn't die here. Watching Top Dog walk away she held resentment and humiliation in her heart. If she had known, if only she could play her cards differently.

Her body moved closer to the ground, her vision turned blurry. Breathing became a tedious thing. Stella wanted nothing more but to close her eyes and rest. It was a really tempting thing. Yet she knew she couldn't, it would spell her end.

A figure rapidly approached. Crouching down they gently lifted Stella, "Young Miss!"

"Oh. . . it's you."

"You're not looking too good."

"You have to. . . quick!", Stella's words failed to make sense.

"Yeah, this condition of yours. The internal bleeding is immense, if I don't get you to help soon you'll die."

The figure did not move after stating that. Instead they stared at Stella.

"Rider. . . ?", Stella wasn't comprehending the figure's actions.

"You have been an excellent leader Young Miss Stella. However this all has shown your conceitedness. We're in a steady position, trying to expand as rapidly as you're planning will lead to our downfall. I've tried to warn you, but you've gone this far."

Stella's eyes widened, "You. . . can't!"

Rider's expression turned pained, "You're my idol Stella, I've dedicated everything to you and your Royal Dominion. I can't bear to watch you destroy everything you've built thus far. So this is where we part. I'll always remember you."

Stella attempted to move forward, to call anyone else for help. She was going to be abandoned here. Her fingers twitched, but nothing moved. Now helpless she turned to the only thing she could, "Rider. . . don't do this. . . !"

"Don't plead please. It pains me so much to get to this point. I want to immortalize your glory! I can't watch you fall!"

"I. . . trusted you."

"Please continue doing so. You have it set up, your Royal Dominion will continue to prosper. I will make sure of it."

Stella couldn't hold on for much longer, "I. . . made a mistake. . . choosing you."

"Every day I spend I will make sure that it was no mistake."

She could not hold on any longer. Her breath faded away and her eyes became dim. Holding the now dead Stella, Rider lowered his head and spoke in a low tone, "I will carry on your legacy."

Such an unexpected move would bring a heap of trouble to the Street Dogs. Now with both leaders dead, two District level gangs were crippled in a chain of command. This temporary lapse would bring forth a wave of issues, and would not go unnoticed by Ghost Hand.

Although Ghost Hand wasn't the only one who noticed.

The young boy watched through a window. His face currently unreadable. Rye, who was sitting next to him, clicked her tongue and walked away. With a face she ranted, "This is why I fucking hate street gangs. This outcome always happens, no one is ever pleased with what they have. Even the fucking Quadrants are always trying to take territory! Always blood and battles, it never ends!"

Gathering a few things Rye mumbled, "I really shouldn't have come here. I thought maybe things might be a bit different this time around. Track spoke nothing but praises for the Street Dogs. Yet they're just the same."

Rye swung open a door with more force than necessary, "I shouldn't have been tempted by sweet words. I'm so stupid-"

Unexpectedly, the young boy acted. Although his body failed to properly move due to the heavy exercises he did. Rye was about to take a step through the door when she felt a bit of resistance on her arm. Such small resistance could easily be ignored. She barely felt it. After all the only thing the young boy did was pinch the hem of her coat.

Maybe she wanted to stay, perhaps this place full of memories was a home she was unwilling to leave so soon. Perhaps she wished it was someone else who was stopping her. Or maybe she was just curious. No matter what the reason, this action made her stop.

Rye turned around and met the young boy's eyes. Her first thought upon meeting the boy was 'lifeless'. His eyes were glossed over, like a robot awaiting commands. Yet in this moment she found a set of eyes more determined than she had ever seen before. Even more, as she continued to stare into those eyes she found something else.

A burning fire, one nowhere close to being quenched.