InfiniteInsanity

Insa smiled a little. "Perfect." She took a deep breath, twisted the handle, opened the door, and walked in.

"What sort of call to action? Be more specific. Different calls will be recieved differently."

"What are you going to say?"

"Fine. You didn't tell them to be here. How are we going to start this revolution?"

"They just all chose to be here right now?"

“What are we doing?” Cora whispered.

Cora thought about that for a moment. It was an acceptable answer for the time being. She stopped asking questions and followed him, speeding up as he had.

"What's the difference?" Her tone was different, more curious. Like she genuinely didn't know.

"Oh, that's the word, revolution. Not a coup. We're not calling it that. I'll try to remember that for next time."

"Aren't we like staging a coup because this place sucks and is incredibly awful for everyone. It's run by like crime lords."

Cora muttered. "This feels like stuff we should have discussed in advance."

“Where were we supposed to run to?”

"You didn't tell us how far or where to run." Cora looked into the void where his voice came from, as if he were slightly stupid. "You can't build a team and then yell at them to run, give them no further instructions, and expect them to thrive at all on their own when, like literally no trust exists."

Insa started moving out of the inn. She felt lighter. She quickly assessed herself. Electricity seemed to hum through her body. The same way it had since coming to the Clinic. The lullaby still played in her ear, and she could feel it dulling the pain of the energy attacking her arm, shoulder, and back. She let out a relieved breath. Everything was as in order as it could be. They made their way down the street. It was dark now. The bright colors of the markets and stores seemed much duller than they should have been. Most had a singular lantern to give the bare minimum of light. Insa paused and turned to look at them as they reached the tavern door. "This is probably the last chance to turn back." The look on her face was serious, but it grew much gentler for a moment. "You both don't have to be here. If you want to leave, go back to the Clinic, find a less dangerous adventure, that's alright."

Cora looked up. "We did."

Cora frowned. This felt weird and wrong to her. She moved closer to Lias.

"Elan, when we get to the tavern, you can remove whatever," she motioned to her face, "this stuff is. I'll need to look like myself."

She followed.

Insa nodded slowly. So you lied. Are you listening to them? He said he died. I was right! It was the truth. You know full well that you weren't talking about him. Okay fine. But this time I'm telling the truth! Too late. The trust is gone. Insa searched through her mind. Gently examining connections. They had been built over time. To people, things, and gods. It took her a moment, but she found the right thread. It looked worn. Like something that had been used far too often. It had clearly been cut and knotted back together several times. I'm done Saar. You've lost the privilege. You forget, you can cut the connection there, but I still have an in. I can make you feel pain like you've never felt it before, remember? I still have you. No, you don't, and you won't. I have some things to take care of here first. But then I'll take care of you. And with that, she cut the thread. "I'm glad." She smiled. "We should get going. We've got some stuff to take care of."

"What's that?"

Insa nodded. "But you weren't ever like dead or lost without any feasible way back?" Insa. Stop. I was acting in your best interest. That's what you always say. Cause it's always true, my dear.

Cora nodded. The lady was probably right. "Okay. Keep running then?"

Cora whispered, "Shouldn't we help him?" @Through the Living Hope