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Hector joined Colt by his side, and they both lingered on the sight of Stoker’s headless body.

“He’s really dead, right?” asked Colt as the reapers floated over to them. “I never can tell anymore.”

‘Yeah,’ said Garovel. ‘You can tell because the body has stopped regenerating.’

Colt stood up from his messy work, wiping the blood on his pants. “Who was this guy, even?” He started for the nearby alley where he’d parked the car.

Hector followed, annihilating his helmet and frowning at Garovel. “Ah... we never learned his name...”

‘We only know he was fighting with Karkash.’

“He did say he was Vanguard,” Hector added.

‘He was probably lying,’ said Garovel.

Hector raised an eyebrow. “What makes you think that?”

‘When Abolish and the Vanguard clash, it’s a big deal. One-on-one fights are extremely rare. I’m guessing he told us that because he figured we’d be more likely to help him.’

Colt checked on the twins in the backseat of the car. Stephanie was standing at the window with her little hands pressed to the glass, and he opened the door to meet her. Thomas was sat contentedly on the other side, and they both looked at Colt, just as calm as earlier. He patted their heads and bellies, tickling them while he double-checked for anything to be worried about. They giggled at him, babbling a few half-words but nothing more.

Hector and Garovel were still occupied with their conversation. “I wish we could have helped him... Because that was just... agh...”

‘Yeah. Assuming he was being hunted down because he and his reaper were traitors to Abolish, then I’m sure he would’ve been able to provide us with valuable information.’

“I don’t understand why, um... well, I mean... if they really were Abolish, then I get why Karkash was after them, but... I don’t get why Karkash just kinda... left. Why didn’t he come after us, too?”