Chapter 18.1

 "... Breaking News. Authorities have finally revealed the official details of yesterday's incident in Amaterasu's Heavenly Park. The famed amusement park was the site of a vicious attack done by, as witnesses and recorded videos show, ninjas. A spokesperson for the Council has revealed that this was an attempted terrorist attack, however, no known terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for this heinous attack. The spokesperson has also verified that, while many were injured, no one had died from the attack. We will now speak to our reporter who is on-site …"

"Look at that," John muttered after a swing of his mug. He wiped the streak of alcohol that was running down from the corner of his mouth before gesturing at the holo-screen. "We've got rogue Espers fighting it out with AEMers in AKEERAs in the middle of the streets, spellcasters blowing up themselves and everything around them 'cause of their experiments, and this gets into the headlines?

"How bout how shitty people's lives are in the Sumps? Or how people are turning to crime in the Slums because of society. The story on how a kid was robbed and shot by a desperate gambler? Or that university student gang-raped by a bunch of rich kids? Is that not newsworthy? What do you think?" John turned to look at Emily and Asami who were nearby.

Emily looked thoughtfully at the screen without answering while Asami opened her mouth to answer.

"Not you. You're a rich one," John interrupted Asami stopping her from speaking. His eyes were on Emily as he continued speaking. "I want someone who knows what it's like to answer. That's right, I can tell that you're just like us, a fellow resident of the Sumps."

Emily and Asami exchanged surprised glances. Emily was shocked at how John was able to tell where she lived, while Asami was stunned that Emily was actually living in the Sumps. From the way she dressed and acted, it was hard to tell that Emily was living in a bad neighbourhood, but that was only because Asami didn't know how much effort the former had to put in.

"I think they're focusing on issues that are foreign to amass sympathy while avoiding issues that are internal," Emily answered slowly. "If people knew the condition of the Sumps and the Slums, Sanctuary wouldn't look so good in the world's eyes."

"Right on," John said with admiration. "That's exactly what they see us as. Mistakes. Unseen, unspoken, errors. Shit that they can sweep under the rug.

"But I digress. These are issues you pretty kids don't need to think about. So how bout leaving right about now, hm?" John shook his head and asked them with a polite smile. "You kids are in the wrong place after all."

"Well now, that depends," Emily said leaning on the counter without making any indication of leaving. "Do you have Accelerant?"

John narrowed his eyes and his fingers twitched when he heard Emily's question, these movements were noticed by the two teenagers. Knowing that they caught on, he sighed and pulled a cheap cigarette out, lighting and breathing its vapours while ignoring them. Asami coughed and almost gagged on the smoke before taking a step back and using Emily as a shield, leaning close to her and trying to breathe in her aroma to combat the vapours. Emily rolled her eyes, knowing that Asami was acting so she could get close and breathed her scent instead.

"You two need to leave," he finally said after a few minutes, when he saw them firmly stand their place. "And don't try getting that stuff. Oh, and no, I'm not trying to be hypocritical. I mean it."

"So you know its effects," Emily said. "Does it really help increase your strength?"

"Does it matter? Not like you'll ever get it," John replied.

"Why? Because of him?" Emily pressed with an emphasis on 'him'. John chuckled and looked at her amusedly.

"I have no idea who you're talking about," John said. His voice was calm while his eyes showed no sign of surprise only confusion.

"You think I'm bluffing," Emily said after giving John an intense glare. "Unfortunately, I happen to know Jason. Intimately."

Emily finished her last sentence with a sigh of longing, her soft voice revealing how infatuated she was. John looked at her in surprise and he couldn't help but study her carefully. He knew Jason's taste and realized that Emily was quite the beauty. Her vibrant green eyes could draw anyone into an amorous fantasy while her vaguely delicate face had a hint of stubbornness sculpted into her chin. Her cheeks were beginning to hollow and the baby fat was disappearing to reveal a more refined feature.

She's the opposite of Mary, John ruminated while puffing out the cigar he was inhaling. She's the center of attention, the beauty queen … whereas Mary's…

"So, that's what he's into now, eh?" John muttered to himself while Emily waited patiently for him to continue their conversation.

"Does he know you're here?" John finally asked aloud to Emily. Her eyelids fluttered slightly against her will, answering his question and him, John, sniggered. "I won't lie to you, I happen to know Jason too. We were in the same ... orphanage. And, if you don't want me to tell him what you're up to, you'll walk away."

Emily glared at John for a moment before looking away, her mind in turmoil. She didn't think he was lying, Emily remembered how she had found Jason exiting the Sumps in a foul mood, his mind wandering while he sat on his bike.

Wait. That time … wasn't he upset? And over people he considered friends. So ... was it this guy? Emily looked at John as she thought about it. Slowly, it began to make sense as she pieced it together, but she was still uncertain. Should I take a chance?

"Funny, you still consider him a friend?" Emily chuckled and turned to look at John. "After what happened?"

Surprise and shock covered John's face before he sighed resignedly. The shock turned into regret as he smiled wryly before answering Emily. "He told you?"

"He told me," affirmed Emily with a vague smile and a raised eyebrow while Asami, who was now a bystander, sneakily pulled a holo-pad to write her notes in, her eyes were flashing as she watched the two go head-to-head in a conversation that made no sense to her.

"Then that means he cares about you," John said after a while. He snuffed out the burned cigar in an ashtray before resuming his drinking. Only after taking three swings did he continue speaking. "Why are you so fixated on using Accelerant? You don't need strength to stand next to him."

"I want to get stronger for myself. I don't want a knight in shining armour, or to be stuck as a damsel in distress," Emily answered. "I want to be myself, to stand on my own without support. But I need to be stronger to do that. And I'll use any advantage I have to get stronger, even if that means using Accelerant."

John rolled his eyes when he heard her. Being independent wasn't bad, but she was willing to risk her life to get stronger and that was infuriating to him, especially since she already had a nuke named Jason next to her.

"Oh, boo-hoo, cry me a river," John sneered. "You that desperate to kill yourself? Fine, I won't stop you. Look for the rebel in Terence Street; you'll find what you're looking for there."

Once John finished speaking, he ignored them and continued drinking. Emily said her thanks before walking out the bar with Asami in tow, the latter had question marks floating around her as she was dragged away.