Lorne moved silently through the shadowed labyrinth of Rat City, his footsteps deliberately muted against the damp stone paths. The alleys twisted like veins through the heart of the city, dim lanterns casting weak, flickering light, enough to illuminate his path but still shroud him in the safety of darkness.
Ahead, Matias and Castin walked side by side, their voices low but animated. Lorne stayed close enough to overhear snippets of their conversation but far enough to remain unnoticed. His ear twitched as he strained to listen, confirming everything he'd learned from Gregor "The Ledger" Hask. Matias had indeed been a scout, possibly still loyal to the Rat King, and now it appeared Castin was involved too.
Suddenly, both men halted as a guard in the unmistakable uniform of the Rat King's personal detail emerged from a nearby alley. Lorne quickly ducked behind a nearby stack of wooden crates, breath held tight, pulse quickening in anticipation.
"Sir Matias Greymire?" the guard's voice was sharp, urgent. "The Rat King summons you immediately. Bring the human with you."
Lorne's heart skipped a beat. The guard departed as abruptly as he'd arrived, leaving Matias and Castin exchanging confused glances before turning swiftly, altering their path toward the palace.
Hidden in the shadows, Lorne's mind raced with possibilities. So, the Rat King was involved, personally. Matias wasn't just a traitor, he was working directly for the King, and by extension, Castin was too. The weight of this revelation pressed heavily on Lorne's chest. He swallowed thickly, contemplating his next move.
He thought briefly of Roe, of the rage and paranoia certain to erupt from him upon hearing this news. His stomach tightened. Not fear, exactly, but apprehension, a keen understanding that the balance of power was shifting, and fast. He could leverage this information, yes, but at what risk?
Lorne stood slowly from his hiding place, eyes following the retreating figures of Matias and Castin as they hurried to answer their King's call. He turned sharply on his heel, slipping away silently through the labyrinthine tunnels. Every sound echoed louder, every shadow felt deeper, each corner he rounded held the threat of discovery.
He clenched his fists, steeling his nerves as he neared Roe's chambers. He knew what he had to do, there was no alternative. Yet uncertainty gnawed at his stomach, a whispering voice in the back of his mind reminding him of the ruthless, volatile nature of Roe's temper.
Reaching the familiar door, opulent and garishly ornate as always, Lorne hesitated. His hand hovered inches from the wood, a deep breath filling his lungs as he steeled himself for what lay beyond.
Truth was a weapon, and today he wielded it. He knocked firmly, the echo reverberating ominously.
"Enter," came Roe's voice from within, deceptively calm, dangerously expectant.
He pushed open the door, stepping into the lion's den. The game had changed, and he was about to place his move carefully.
Lorne stepped through Roe's ornate doorway, eyes immediately falling to the fresh blood being cleaned off the polished stone floor by a young rat who avoided making eye contact. His gaze shifted to Naomi in her cage, visibly shaken and curled protectively into herself. Lorne swallowed hard, dread pooling in his gut. Roe had clearly just killed again. What had this poor girl done to deserve such cruelty, and why was Roe so fixated on using her abilities? Was Roe simply a monster, or was there more at play here?
"Oh, if it isn't my favorite living testament to nepotism," Roe drawled mockingly, lounging comfortably at his desk. Lorne winced at the memory of the guns drawn on him and being forced to kill Vetch for his current position. "So tell me, what did our old friend Vorrik, the Fence, have to say?"
Lorne approached the desk, clasping his hands nervously behind his back, a lingering habit from his UNSC days. "You were right, Roe," he said carefully, steadying his voice. "Vorrik knew exactly who to send me to. He pointed me towards a strange rat named Gregor Hask, down near the abandoned maintenance station."
Roe rolled his one eye impatiently. "Well, go on, you dumb bastard. Spit it out already, what did you find?"
Lorne hesitated, his eyes sliding briefly to Naomi again, noticing her anguish. "Boss…what happened to her?"
Roe chuckled darkly, eyes glinting with twisted amusement. "Yeah, you're tellin' me. Like, who died, am I right?" He laughed cruelly, deliberately tormenting Naomi further.
Lorne forced himself to continue. "Yeah anyway, as far as I could tell from Gregor… there wasn't anything strange about Matias. He worked for the Rat King, then he stopped. From there, it was all odd jobs and nothing significant."
The lie felt heavy on his tongue. Why was he doing this? Lorne knew the danger, lying to Roe was potentially suicidal. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to condemn Matias and Castin outright.
Roe narrowed his single eye, leaning forward with suspicion. "You're telling me," Roe's voice turned dangerously quiet, "that the rat specifically known for knowing everything, didn't know anything more interesting about Matias?"
Lorne held firm, despite his nerves screaming in protest. "That's right. Seems there's nothing more."
Roe stretched deliberately, voice turning dangerously playful. "You know, Lorne, I've been telling ol' girly here how much I hate liars and lying." He cast a cruel glance toward Naomi, who twitched involuntarily, a reaction born from trauma.
Naomi's eyes snapped up, sensing danger as Roe moved toward the remote for her collar. Desperation surged through her as she reached out, her remaining strength poured entirely into Lorne's mind. A sharp command flooded his consciousness. "Get out of here right now! Roe is going to kill you!"
A wave shot through Lorne's body and he obeyed without hesitation, spinning swiftly toward the exit. Another command pushed through his mind, powerful and insistent: "Get help, do something!" Just as his hand touched the door handle, a bullet shattered the stone beside his head. Adrenaline surged through him, and he sprinted from the room before Roe could fire again.
Roe's fury snapped toward Naomi. "What did you fucking do, you bitch?!" he snarled, turning sharply toward a nearby guard. "Get her the hell out here, now!"
The guard roughly unlocked Naomi's cage, dragging her before Roe's desk. "Her hand, my desk. Now!" Roe demanded coldly. He withdrew a dagger from his desk, slamming it brutally through Naomi's hand. Her screams echoed through the chamber as Roe ordered the guard to silence her cries. "You stupid, stupid bitch," Roe hissed viciously as he pulled the dagger out. He could see Naomi's eyes start to roll back into her head as she began to pass out from the pain before slapping her awake. "Did you really think you could get away with that? That ol' Roe wouldn't notice?"
He signaled the guard. "Put her back in her fucking cage." he Barked before continuing, "Next time, sweetheart," Roe whispered, voice dripping venom, "blood won't be the only thing you lose." With a press of the remote, Naomi fell limp, drugged unconscious once again.
Roe seated himself calmly, summoning another guard to his desk. "Sir, what can I—" A shot rang out abruptly, the young rat collapsing dead. Roe sighed, unhinged, and shook his head. "I always get my kill," he murmured darkly, then shouted impatiently, "Now someone clean this up, or did I already kill all of you?" before laughing to himself.
Castin's breath fogged in the chilly air as he and Matias hurried through Rat City's dimly lit streets, guided by the urgent stride of the Rat King's guard. The abruptness of their summons filled Castin with unease, each echoing footstep amplifying the tension in his chest.
Castin leaned closer to Matias, lowering his voice to barely above a whisper. "What's going on? You think our cover's blown?"
Matias's ears twitched nervously. He shook his head, glancing around as they moved swiftly through shadowed alleys. "I don't know. But the King wouldn't call us like this unless something serious is happening"
They reached the palace gates, the imposing doors already standing ajar. Guards flanked the entrance, their expressions stern, their eyes cautious yet respectful as they stepped aside to let them pass.
As they entered, Castin couldn't shake the feeling of dread that settled into the pit of his stomach. The palace seemed colder, quieter than before. The opulence around him now felt oppressive, each glimmer of gold and silk hanging heavy with tension.
Inside the throne room, the Rat King paced restlessly, an aura of barely-contained agitation radiating from him. He turned abruptly as they approached, his gaze sharp and piercing.
"You came quickly. Good," the Rat King began, his voice taut with restrained urgency. "We are all in danger. Something or rather, someone, has emerged."
Matias tensed visibly. Castin shot him a worried glance, but Matias was too focused on the Rat King to notice.
"What happened?" Matias asked cautiously, stepping forward.
The Rat King paused, meeting Matias's gaze directly. "Edgar has been taken by Roe's Gunrunners. Elizabeth and Emma are safe for now, under my protection but the situation is deteriorating rapidly."
Matias's eyes widened in shock. Castin felt his own heart drop; Edgar had been nothing but kind to him, welcoming him into his home without hesitation. Anger quickly followed the shock.
The Rat King continued, his voice grave. "There's more. I've confirmed whispers about Roe's new prisoner. It has to be Naomi. Whatever is happening, it's directly connected to her, that and the blue liquid Roe's been distributing."
Castin clenched his fists. Naomi's situation was clearly worse than he imagined. He felt a flash of guilt, he should have acted sooner, should have fought harder.
"What do you mean about the liquid?" Castin interjected sharply. "What is it exactly?"
The Rat King sighed, shoulders tense. "It suppresses abilities like hers. Powers gifted, or cursed, by the brown-green light not unlike your own. I can only assume Roe has turned her into a weapon."
Castin's jaw tightened, a storm of anger and regret surging within him. Matias looked equally unsettled, absorbing the information with quiet dread.
Meanwhile, Lorne raced through the streets, heart pounding fiercely, the compulsion to get help still surging powerfully within him. He struggled to process the chaos he'd just escaped. The girl had saved him, why? Her power still lingered in his mind, driving him toward the market district and inevitably, toward the Rat King's palace.
Lorne steeled himself, moving faster. There seemed to be no turning back now.
Lorne moved through the darkened streets of Rat City, his pulse still hammering from the encounter with Roe. Naomi's voice, her power, still lingered in his mind, pushing him forward, guiding his steps with a strange compulsion. It was like an aftershock, an imprint of urgency that refused to fade.
His instincts screamed at him to lay low, to disappear until he had a plan, but that wasn't an option anymore. Naomi had risked everything to save his life. He didn't know why, but he knew what that meant, he owed her. And the only place he could think to go was the Rat King's palace.
The closer he got to the market district, the more the streets opened up, shifting from the labyrinthine alleys to broader paths lined with flickering lanterns. The usual crowd had thinned at this hour, but there were still enough people to make him uneasy. He kept his head down, his steps deliberate. If Roe decided to send someone after him, it wouldn't take long for word to spread.
The palace loomed ahead, its silhouette cutting against the cavernous ceiling above Rat City. The lanterns surrounding the entrance cast a golden glow on the stone steps leading up to the massive doors. Two guards in uniform, the unmistakable mark of the Rat King's elite, stood at attention. They straightened as Lorne approached, their eyes narrowing.
"Halt," one of them ordered, stepping forward to block his path. "State your business."
Lorne exhaled slowly, bracing himself. "I need to see the Rat King. It's urgent."
The guards exchanged a look, unimpressed. "The King doesn't take unannounced visitors," the other one replied flatly. "Come back in the morning."
"Don't be an idiot," Lorne snapped, stepping closer, lowering his voice. "You know who I work for. This isn't just some drunken thug trying to plead for a favor, I have information that the Rat King is going to want to hear. Now, unless you want to be the ones who turned me away when that information could've changed something, I suggest you let me in."
The first guard sneered but didn't immediately dismiss him. The second guard studied Lorne for a moment, then, without a word, turned and disappeared into the palace. Lorne let out a slow breath, forcing himself to remain still. His hand twitched at his side, desperate for a cigarette, something to calm his nerves. But the weight of Roe's paranoia still pressed against him like a tightening noose. He had lied to him. Worse, he had run from him. That debt would come due.
After a few agonizing minutes, the second guard returned. "You'll be allowed an audience. Move."
Lorne followed them through the palace doors, the grandeur of the interior contrasting violently with the filth of the city outside. Ornate chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting soft, golden light across polished stone floors. Tapestries depicting the long rule of the Rat King lined the walls, regal and carefully preserved. Servants moved quickly through the halls, keeping their heads down, their presence a fleeting whisper beneath the weight of the palace's authority.
Lorne had never been inside before. He'd never needed to. But now, walking these halls, he felt how deep the power of the Rat King ran. Roe played at being a king, but this, this was something else entirely.
The guards led him into a large antechamber, where he was instructed to wait. He took in the room, noting the finely crafted furniture, the flickering wall sconces, the heavy wooden doors ahead, the ones that led directly to the throne room. The tension in his gut twisted tighter.
This was it.
Lorne was about to change the course of the game. And he had no idea if he was making the right move.
The heavy wooden doors swung open, the deep groan of hinges echoing sharply through the Rat King's throne room. Lorne stepped inside, his eyes quickly adjusting to the regal darkness. The Rat King sat poised on his throne, his gaze sharp and unblinking, quietly assessing him.
"Speak quickly," the Rat King commanded softly, the power behind his words palpable. "You claim urgency; now prove it."
Lorne stepped forward, shoulders squared despite the lingering tremble in his fingertips. He took a deep breath, meeting the King's eyes with newfound conviction. "Roe has become unpredictable, dangerous even more than before. He's been holding a girl captive, Naomi. He's using her abilities against anyone who opposes him. She… she saved my life tonight."
The Rat King's brow furrowed slightly, concern flickering across his normally unreadable features.
Lorne continued. "She's being forced to manipulate minds for Roe. He's got her caged, collared with a device that suppresses her abilities. But not entirely, he can still force her to use them."
The Rat King leaned forward, his gaze piercing into Lorne's very core. "Did you see another prisoner, a rat, older, grey around the muzzle, a baker named Edgar?"
Lorne paused, thinking carefully before shaking his head slowly. "No. There was no one else imprisoned. Just a guard, someone cleaning blood from the floor, and Naomi. If Roe had another captive, they weren't in that room."
The Rat King's jaw tightened, a flicker of worry crossing his features before being quickly masked. Silence stretched out, filled only by the subtle crackling of torches lining the throne room walls.
Finally, the Rat King motioned towards the side door. "Bring them in."
The doors opened, admitting Matias and Castin. Both men stopped abruptly, their expressions flashing quickly from surprise to guarded suspicion at the sight of Lorne.
"Gentlemen," the Rat King addressed them calmly, "it seems we have a common enemy. And it's time we united to face it."
Lorne turned, facing the newcomers with visible tension, his jaw clenched tightly. Matias glanced warily at Castin before stepping forward. "What's happened?"
"Roe has Naomi captive," the Rat King said plainly, letting the heavy implication settle. "And Edgar's missing, likely taken by Roe's gang. We cannot ignore the obvious. Nikodemus is alive and manipulating Roe from the shadows."
Castin visibly stiffened, fists clenching at his sides. "Nikodemus? I mean, I'll admit I don't know much about the guy, but wasn't he—"
"Believed dead, yes," the Rat King interjected sharply. "Clearly, we were mistaken. His hand is behind everything, the drugs, Naomi's captivity, the unrest brewing in the city."
Matias inhaled sharply, realization dawning in his eyes. "And Roe's become his puppet."
"Precisely," the Rat King confirmed, his tone grave. "We must act swiftly. Roe must be stopped, Naomi freed, and Edgar found. This is no longer just a rescue mission, this is about survival itself."
The room fell silent again, each occupant weighing the enormity of what was unfolding. Finally, Lorne spoke, voice barely above a whisper yet firm in resolve. "I'll help. Naomi… saved me. I owe her my life."
Castin stepped forward as well, eyes blazing with barely-contained fury. "I'm with you. Naomi deserves to be free, and Edgar… we need to get him back. Elizabeth and Emma have suffered enough already."
Matias exchanged a glance with Castin, a quiet nod confirming his agreement. "Count me in. It's time we take this fight to Roe directly."
The Rat King rose from his throne, his presence dominating the chamber. "Tonight, we strike at—"
Suddenly, a voice cut through the heavy air, sharp with anger and grief, a servant trying to stop Elizabeth from rushing the room. "This is your fault, Castin!" Elizabeth stepped forward briskly from the shadowed alcove, eyes blazing with barely contained fury and anguish. "All of this, the pain, the uncertainty, it's because of you. Emma is just a child, and now Edgar—" Her voice broke, tears welling in her eyes. "I can't go through this again. I just can't."
Castin approached Elizabeth slowly, seeing the depth of her pain, and without hesitation, he pulled her into a firm, comforting embrace. Elizabeth stiffened initially but then slowly relaxed, clinging to him as she wept silently.
"Elizabeth," Castin said gently, his voice firm yet compassionate. "Eli is alive."
She drew back sharply, staring at him in shock. "What?"
Castin glanced toward the Rat King, who nodded solemnly in confirmation. Castin continued softly, filling Elizabeth in on the details of finding Eli, about Naomi's memory loss being the reason she hadn't informed anyone, how she had cared tirelessly for Eli, storing food and medicine. Elizabeth listened silently, her expression shifting from disbelief to overwhelmed relief and then slowly back to anger.
She turned sharply toward the Rat King, her voice shaking with controlled fury. "You knew. You knew about Eli, and yet my son isn't here. No one thought to tell me?"
The Rat King faltered slightly, his usually unwavering composure momentarily cracking under Elizabeth's wrath. "Elizabeth, I assure you—"
"You knew!" she snapped, cutting him off sharply, eyes burning with betrayal.
The doors swung open again, a guard rushing in, abruptly halting at the tension-filled scene. He cleared his throat awkwardly, addressing the Rat King directly. "Your Majesty, the young rat you requested be found has been located and brought back to the palace. He's in the infirmary." The guard shifted nervously. "He is… stable, my lord."