As Angelo and Neiva approached the camp, Angelo felt the weight of silence pressing down. "You want to talk about what happened back there?"

Neiva didn't answer right away. She stared down at the CampShip coming into view. "N-Not right now. Can we... can we talk tomorrow? I just want to sleep."

Angelo studied her face for a long moment. "Okay."

They touched down near the ship. Sol was sprawled on top of it, but he sat up when he noticed them. "Hey, there you are. Was starting to get a little worried." Then he spotted Neiva. "Oh, you ended up joining them after all? Honestly didn't even notice you weren't here. Haha."

Sol was completely failing to read the room. He couldn't see the bloodstains.

Angelo's aura winked out as he set Neiva down gently. She moved toward the door without meeting anyone's eyes. "Sorry. I'm really tired. Good night."

She disappeared inside.

Angelo rubbed his tired eyes. "Why are you still up?"

Sol smirked. "Was practicing something. Still got adrenaline pumping, so I'm lying here until I crash."

"Right." Angelo stretched. "Do what you need to. Night."

"Night." Sol said it casually, still completely oblivious to whatever had just happened.

He went back to lying on his back on top of the ship, staring at stars.

Inside the CampShip, a surprise waited for Neiva. When she opened her cabin, crimson lettering glowed on the wall: "On my signal, wait for me outside."

She swallowed hard. But she nodded to herself. Something in her expression said she'd expected this.

She lay down without changing clothes. Didn't dare fall asleep. Just waited.

Meanwhile, Blue materialized on top of the ship, sitting down across from Sol with perfect posture.

"Fancy meeting you up here, Professor." Sol's tone carried playful warmth.

"Good evening, Solomon." Blue gestured at the sky. "Enjoying the cloudless starry night, I see."

"Heh. You got me." Sol's gaze drifted back upward.

Blue studied his expression—relaxed but thoughtful. "Something on your mind?"

"Nah, nothing heavy. Just..." Sol's voice went softer. "Sometimes when you get a moment to yourself, your brain starts wandering. You know?"

Blue took in the view. Countless stars scattered across the darkness, stretching all the way to the mountain peaks. The sky looked like a breathtaking galaxy spread across a canvas. The perfect distraction from today's events. "Indeed. The beauty of nature has a way of provoking contemplation."

Sol hummed thoughtfully. "Makes you think, doesn't it? About how much we don't know yet."

Blue nodded slowly. "The universe contains infinite secrets. Humanity continues discovering more, and yet, the more we learn, the more we realize how little we truly understand."

"Ha." Sol's laugh came out weak but genuine. "Well said. You know what I find most fascinating?"

"Please, share."

"Energy connections." Sol turned his head slightly to gauge Blue's reaction.

"Ah. Quite the elusive subject, yes." Blue's interest visibly sharpened.

"Right?" Sol seemed glad to find common ground. "Invisible channels that transfer energy across space. But from where? Through what? And why does it work at all?"

"I've pondered it myself on several occasions." Blue closed his eyes in thought. "My current working theory suggests energy connections function like a network where each node represents a black hole."

"Yeah? Why black holes specifically?"

"Well, as far as current scientific understanding indicates, black holes represent the most energy-dense objects in the known universe." Blue opened his eyes again. "As though they're attempting to rid themselves of it entirely. Just a hunch, mind you."

Sol looked back up at the stars, processing that perspective. "Not a bad hunch at all."

Back inside, the crimson lettering shifted: "Get ready."

A moment later, Red materialized at the far end of the CampShip, his grin spelling nothing but trouble. "Good evening, nerds!"

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Sol looked down at him from the roof. "And now Red's here. This is turning into quite the sleepover, huh?"

Red smirked. Inside Neiva's cabin, the lettering changed: "Follow me." The words dissolved into crimson smoke that left the room and waited just outside.

Neiva's stomach twisted with uncertainty. But she followed anyway. The smoke led her away from the ship while Red kept Sol distracted above.

Blue's voice cut through their shared mind—away from Sol's ears. "Your actions haven't gone unnoticed. What are you scheming?"

Red looked up at Blue on the roof. Their eyes locked. His internal reply came sharp. "What kind of observer are you supposed to be? Stay out of my business and do your thing—observe." His mental chuckle carried edges. "Heh, heh."

Blue's mental huff was almost audible. But he didn't push back.

After a few more verbal jabs with Sol, Red clapped once. "Alright! I'll let you nerds get back to your star-counting. Buh-bye!" He dissolved into smoke and flowed back into Angelo—only to emerge again and head toward where Neiva waited in the darkness.

"Your brother's funny," Sol chuckled up at Blue.

Blue adjusted his invisible glasses with clinical precision. "We are NOT brothers."

Neiva waited in the small forest near the ship—just dense enough to hide her from view. A voice suddenly appeared beside her shoulder, making her stiffen. But she didn't turn around.

"Quite the troublemaker you turned out to be." Red studied her unmoving face from beside her. "Eh, sugar-tits?"

She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Can Angelo hear us?"

Red circled around her like a shark sizing up prey, his grin sharp as a blade. "Sleeping like a baby. Blueberry though? Different story." His gaze shifted upward—addressing the sky itself. "But you won't tell anyone. Will you?"

"My function is to observe and analyze, not to judge or intervene," Blue replied with clinical detachment.

"See?" Red gestured vaguely at nothing.

"What... what did he say?" Neiva wanted confirmation she couldn't hear.

"He said his job is to watch, not judge." Red shrugged. "Translation: he'll keep his mouth shut."

Neiva nodded, but uncertainty still showed on her face. "So... why did you want to talk to me?"

She was playing innocent. Keeping her cards hidden.

Red's grin widened. "Playing dumb? Alright, I'll play along." He resumed circling her. "When you were crying earlier, Angelo saw a traumatized little girl. But your heart told me something different."

Neiva said nothing. Didn't move from her spot.

Red stopped directly behind her. "Do you like it? Killing?"

Even Blue's presence seemed to sharpen, waiting for her answer.

Neiva looked down at her hands. One found her opposite wrist and gripped it. Several moments of silence passed as she formulated her response.

Finally: "No. I don't."

"Ha!" Red's laugh was sharp and disbelieving. "Could've fooled me. So why'd you do it then?"

"They... they threatened me! Treated me like entertainment! They—"

"Bullshit." Red cut through her excuse like a knife. "You felt completely fine after slaughtering them all. Not relieved. Not satisfied. Just another Tuesday for you."

Neiva's words died in her throat. She straightened up, and something in her demeanor shifted—became focused. Deadly. "Why do you do it? The way you laugh when you kill, seems like you're enjoying yourself."

"Hey, I'm the one asking the questions here." Defensiveness crept into Red's tone.

"Come on, don't be like that." Neiva turned to face him, pressing the issue.

Red crossed his arms. "I asked first, so—"

Neiva's expression went flat. She was done with this conversation. She stormed past him, shoulder brushing his as she moved.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Red's voice rose behind her.

She didn't respond. Just kept walking.

Red exhaled hard through his nose. "I don't know the best way to put this, but—"

Neiva stopped. Didn't turn around, but she was listening.

Red steeled himself. "Taking another life is the ultimate power play out there." His voice went dark. Ominous. "Nothing makes me feel more alive than that."

Neiva turned slowly to face him. "Then why aren't you killing people left and right?"

Red's grin turned predatory. "Guess I'm like that Marcus guy. Heh, heh. Power play I enjoy—bullying the bullies."

Neiva nodded slowly. "So you've got something to prove."

"Don't read too much into it." The playfulness vanished completely.

Neiva looked him dead in the eye. "Well, I'm not like you. I don't kill because I enjoy it or get some kind of rush from it."

"Then why?"

Neiva's gaze drifted upward toward the moon watching them like a silent guardian. "It's the same as Angelo. He kills those he deems beyond redemption." She turned her gaze back to Red. Her eyes shifted—glowing venomous yellow. Both Red and Blue visibly twitched at the sight. "But unlike him, I don't think any of them deserve redemption at all."

She paused, looking uncertain for just a moment. Then her resolve returned. "That's why I decided. I'm reclaiming the Grim Reaper mantle as my own. I'll be the Angel of Death's shadow. His weapon. I'll serve justice where the system has failed."

Red said nothing for several heartbeats. Then he scratched his head, choosing his words carefully. "So you're as boring as he is. What a letdown."

"What do you mean?"

"Eh, nothing." Red shook his head. "The Grim Reaper thing? Personally, I don't give a shit. But keep that away from Angelo. I guarantee he wouldn't like it."

Her eyes reverted to their usual green. She looked more uncertain now—smaller, younger. "I know..." The word came out miserable. "What am I going to do, Red? How am I supposed to explain any of this to him? Tomorrow he'll demand answers..."

Red kicked some dirt, thinking it over. "Got yourself in quite the bind there, kiddo."

"Help me." She looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please..."

He crossed his arms, looking thoroughly unamused. "Yeah, alright. Leave it to me. I'll think of something."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much, Red! You're a lifesaver!" She bounced on her toes.

"Keep your panties on, sweetheart." Red waved a dismissive hand. "Just follow my lead. With you it'll be harder to pull off since we can't share thoughts like I can with the other dorks."

"I'll do my best." Neiva giggled—genuine relief showing through. "Thanks, Red. I really mean it."

"Don't sweat it. Just throwing a friend a bone."

"Aww, you consider me a friend?" Mock excitement colored her voice.

"Yeah, yeah. Don't get all mushy on me." Red clapped twice. "Now then, chop chop. Time for bed."

"Alrighty! Good night!" She skipped toward the CampShip, spirits lifted.

She spotted Blue putting a blanket over Sol, who'd apparently fallen asleep on top of the ship.

Their eyes met. The moment stretched awkwardly.

"Good night, Neiva," Blue offered, breaking the tension.

"Thanks, Blue. You too." She smiled slightly. "Good night."

She slipped inside the ship for some much-needed rest. Tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but with Red on her side, she might just overcome them.

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