All those years ago. Who would of guess that they'd be acting on such a childish game now?

Zain walked through the darkened streets, his eyes focused straight ahead. These streets were full of life only years ago. Green shrubs that fenced every house. joyous neighbors, both elderly and young. None of that existed now. Most of the houses were reduced to rubble, with only a few remaining. but they were only shells of what they used to be. Holes littered the walls, windows were shattered, and doors were either broken or completely gone. The friendly people were all gone, replaced with thugs who prowled the streets for their next victim.

But every time they looked at Zain, the same thing happened They looked him up and down, debating whether he would hold anything worthy for them. Then they would see the holster on his hips and the long duffel bag that hung off his shoulders, and usually decide against it. There were two that decided the risk was worth the gain, but zain only had to stare at them to make them back down like the dogs they were.

Only once Zain was at that spot did he stop. an alleyway. It wasn't big like the streets, but it was big enough for a few adults to hang around. It was just as dark and messy as they had left it all those years ago. Glass bottles lay scattered around, with crates overturned for makeshift seats. Moss grew in small cracks that laid in spots where water dripped from condensation from the air conditioner units that whirrled away. A piece of scrunched up newspaper burned away, its flames flicking about. 

"10 years..." He said softly, watching the flame dance. 10 years since they fell out of contact...

"The apocalypse?" Zain asked, looking up from his lunch.

"It's only a hypothetical!" Odi said quickly. Odi was a quiet kid, almost silent. Even his clothes were quiet, wearing only dark clothes on dark skin. but it was his bright green eyes that always grabbed people's attention. "It's just...don't you think we should come up with a plan?"

"That sounds stupid." Kane said with a huff, throwing a ball up in the air over and over again. He was dressed in a singlet, much more suited for the summer than Odi.

"D-Does it really...?" Odi asked quietly, lowering his head to examine his hands. The alley was silent for a long while, until Zain finished his lunch with a large bite.

"...Well, it can't hurt. You got anything better to do?" zain asked through a full mouth. Kane opened his mouth, but Zain quickly interjected. "Not soccer again. It's too hot." He said. Kane closed his mouth then grumbled something.

"I'.ve....got an idea..." another boy, Jayden, piped up. He was a typical looking nerd, with the glasses and the bowl cut. Even a bit overweight.

"No dungeons and dragons either. We've played it twice in a row." Zain added. Jayden lowered his head.

"...Ugh, this is so laaame." Natalie groaned, lying on the cool concrete in the middle of the circle of friends. She was the quintessential girly girl, always obsessed with fashion and makeup. Why she hung out with their group, Zain wasn't sure.

"Come on, it can't hurt..."  Chloe reassured.

"alright, what's your plan?" Zain asked as he turned to Odi, who looked among the others quickly. A sparkle grew in his eyes. Then he began his explanation.

As Odi explained his plan Zain was taken aback. Odi, who was always the shy kid, was talking quickly and excitedly, his hands waving around frantically to keep up with his words. As Zain looked around, he realized everyone else was having the same reaction. 

His plan was as followed: The group needed an even mix of jobs to be filled out. People to fight, people to grow and harvest food, or even to gather food, someone to gather information, and a leader.

"Why a fighter?" Zain asked with a raised eyebrow.

"People...go crazy when the end is upon them." Odi explained, making Zain blink.

"You make it sound like you've seen this before." Natalie said as she sat up. Odi blushed and looked down.

"i-i uhh...just have a vivid imagination..." He said meekly.

"...Well, i guess i'll be the fighter." Zain said as he rolled his shoulder.

"Hey, fuck you. I could throw you to the ground in a heartbeat!" Kane yelled, throwing his ball. zain dogded in the nick of time, letting out a laugh.

"And i could be the gatherer!" Chloe exclaimed as she jumped up excitedly. "i always loved camping with Pa!"

"Guess that makes me the gossip?" Natalie asked, then smiled. "Cool, means i don't have to do anything strenuous."

"W-w-well, not gossip, a-and everyone helps out with different things too...i guess..." Odi quickly said, going quieter with every word until he was boderline mute at the end.

"Then i guess that makes you the leader?" zain asked. Odi blinked and looked around at everyone. while Kane looked unimpressed, even he realized how excited this little story was close to his heart. So his shrugged and turned away. It took Odi a moment, but he stood up quickly and beamed a proper smile. the biggest one Zain had seen from him.

"What about me...?" Jayden asked, tears in the corners of his eyes.

"uhh..." zain looked to Odi. "Well, leader?"

"Th-that's OK! I've got a special job for you!" Odi exclaimed, moving close and taking Jayen;s hands in his own, then looked around at everyone. "And i can teach everyone some tricks to help your skills along!"

"Alright then, everyone's accounted for!" Chloe exclaimed, throwing her arms around Odi and Jayden. the three erupted into laughter, which was so contaigious that Zain,, Chloe, and even Kane started laughing.

Who would have thought that harmless game would turn into this...?

"Zain?" A soft voice made him look up. At the end of the alley stood a woman. It took Zain a moment to realize who it was.

"Chloe?" He asked, shocked. Chloe, the stick of a girl who was always dressed in overalls, always a tom boy. But now...

She walked in, her body filled into places that forced Zain to keep his eyes on her face. Her face was peppered with makeup. Her eyelashes looked longer. Her lips looked redder, fuller. Only once she had sat down next to him that Zain looked back to the fire. 

"You look...different." She said softly after a few minutes of silence. Zain shifted slightly on his crate.

"So do you." He replied. She shifted on her crate. they fell in silence for a long while.

"...Any news on the others?" she asked after a while. But Zain shook his head and said nothing, Natalie sighed.  The tense silence filled the air again. the newspaper now burnt into ashes. After a moment of silence, she sighed again.

"I can't believe you guys remembered."

Both Zain and Chloe looked up to see a man walking into the alleyway. The bowl cut that he used to have was grown out, but his large belly and red cheeks stayed.

"Jayden!" chloe exclaimed, a smile appearing on her lips. As he came in, he stopped and blinked.

"Chloe!" He exclaimed, an equally large smile on his lips. Then he looked down at Zain and squinted.

"And...Zain?" He asked. Zain glanced up and waved. "How've you been?" Jayden asked as he moved and sat down on a crate with a sigh. 

"...Alright, i guess." Zain replied simply. Silence enveloped the clearing again.  

"So uh...what's in the bag?" Jayden asked. Zain shrugged it off his shoulders and unzipped the top. As he opened it, glints of gold and silver shined through. Jayden leaned in closer, then blinked and looked up at him, en eyebrow raised.

"You...can't be serious." He said after a moment of silence.

"What, and you don't think i didn't notice your gloves?" zain replied with a smirk. Jayden's face went redder and he looked down at his lap. 

"you know that's not what i meant..." Jayden replied softly. Zain was still for a moment before reaching into the bag and pulling out the long blade. Its hilt was covered in pale gold, with a red jewel in the center, just above the blade. the blade itself was a bright silver, like it had only just been forged. It pulsed with energy, the hilt began to warm. Quickly Zain put it back in the bag and sighed, pressing his thumb into his hand to massage it.

"...You know what he said. This blade can vanquish any evil." He said as he straightened and looked back to the end of the alleyway. He wondered who would show up next. Would it be Kane? Or maybe Natalie?

As long as it wasn't him.

Chloe screamed, and Zain turned quickly, his hand diving into the beg to grasp the blade.

"Wha--" He started, then stopped as he saw the hooded figure standing on the other side of the alleyway. How did they...

"I can't believe that you all still remember this place..." the figure said, their voice soft, yet rich.  The pit in Zain's stomach grew. Even though it was deeper, he knew that voice. The figure lifted dark hands and pulled the hood from their head.

"I knew it..." Zain growled, moving forward to stand in front of Jayden and Chloe, who had both fallen back. Even though this man looked completely different from the mute boy they once knew, he would recognize those eyes. His hair, which had been but fuzz on his head as a child, was now long and hung over his chest. His stick like body was now layered with lean muscle. But it was those same lonely sad eyes, as green as meadows, that grabbed everyone's attention.

"Odi." Zain said, taking a step forward again. Odi lifted his head and regarded the three.

...You've all grown. Is this all that's left?" He asked, sadness evident in his voice. He lowered and shook his head. "I'm disappointed."

"Don't you act disappointed!" Zain snapped, reaching up and into his duffel bag. "you're the one who started the war!"

Odi lifted his gaze again. He regarded Zain with a coolness that did not fit the memory he had of Odi. then, he shook his head again.

"I have my reasons. That's all you need to know." he said, the stepped forward. Zain took a step backwards. 

"Bullshit!" Zain yelled, and pulled the sword out of the bag. It pulsed again, strong this time. When Odin looked back, he blinked.

"You found it?" He asked after a moment of silence, then...smiled. A warm smile, even with those sad eyes. "I knew you could do it."

To Zain's surprise, Odi stepped forward again, and with a firm flourish, threw his cloak off. Even though he always looked plain, underneath was a different story. His arms were covered in intricate tattoos. But it was the sheath hanging from his waist that grabbed Zain's attention. But Zain didn't budge. He moved the sword and readied himself. It pulsed again, and the hilt began to warm again.

"Stop!" There was a flourish of red light, and before Zain could react, Jayden was by his side, a ball of fire in his hand. Then, like was playing a game of baseball, he reared back, lifted his leg, then threw it with all his might. The ball whizzed threw the air, straight towards Odi. but Odi merely flicked it away with the back of his hand.

"No way..." Jayden whispered, eyes wide. But Zain jumped forward with a yell. 

As he rushed him, Odi took ne step back and unsheathed his sword. It was a dull blade compared to Zain's, but even as Zain brought his blade down with a yell, Odi parried him away with ease. He stumbled back, but threw himself back at him and kept swinging. But every swing, Odi parried with what looked like ease. Every strike made the blade's hilt grow hotter, until it felt like it was searing his very skin. but Zain didnt dare let go. He got faster, swung harder, to the point that Odi took a step back.

Then his eyes changed. The sadness turned to shock, then frustration. Then he took a step forward, pushing Zain back. He changed his hold on the blade, then swung. Zain went to block, but suddenly Odi released his blade, letting the blade fall to the ground

'What?' zain thought, but not even a second later, Odi slammed his hand on Zain's wrist. He yelled out, his grip loosening. The blade dropped out of his hands with a clatter. but Odi did not back down. He brought a leg up and kicked hard into Zain's stomach. He went flying towards the the air conditioning unit, and was only saved from a broken back by Jayden, who jumped in just in time to cushion his fall.

"Its far too early for you to be using that blade." Odi said as he leaned down. Zain tried to reach out, but all he could do was stretch his fingers out, opening his mouth to try and get some sort of air into his chest. 

As he bent over, his fingers just touching the golden hilt, suddenly something squeaked. Zain blinked as Odi looked up. Something small, fluffy, and grey darted out of the shadows of the building.

'A mouse?' zain thought as it stood up on the hilt. It squeaked angrily at the dark skinned man, who blinked in surprise.

"Is this your doing, Chloe?" Odi asked, looked up. Zain could just see her from the corner of his eye. she was sitting on her knees, her hands placed firmly on her pale legs. Her head was bowed in silent prayer. she said nothing, didn't even move. 

another squeak, and both men looked to see another two mice had come out of the shadows. seconds later, and another three. Before long, a small horde of mice had crawled out of the shadows.  Before long, Odi was surrounded.

"Interesting..." Odi mused as he looked around himself, then back at the group. "I didn't mean for things to end this way."  He said, then took a step backwards. 

"wai...." Zain tried to call out to him, tried to reach out again. 

"I suggest you all get out of here. The Mallitia will be here soon. I can't guarantee your lives if they find you."

"Bull...bullshit..." Jayden wheezed as he sat up. "you probably sold us out...!"

Odi turned away, but Zain didn't miss the sorrowful look that returned to his eyes. He said nothing as he picked up his cloak and threw it over himself again, then he lifted his hand high in the air. One of the tattoos, a swirly line that stretched from his elbow up to his wrist, began to glow a faint blue colour. he clicked his finger, then, just like that, he was gone in a blink of an eye.

As soon as he was gone, Chloe relaxed, falling back and relaxed against the wall. The mice, as if they realized where they were, all scampered off into the shadows again.

"What was he planning, coming here?" Jayden asked as he stood up. then, as if he remembered Zain's injuries, leaned over him again. "Zain! you ok?!"

"Winded..." Zain gasped, and forced himself onto his hands and knees. 

"Can you move...?" He asked, then looked over at Chloe. "what about you Chloe?!" 

"Yeah..." she called. Zain gasped once, then nodded.

"Have to..." he breathed, then shook his head as he forced himself to stand. As he stood, he could hear, just faintly in the distance, the sound of sirens. At once Chloe was on her feet. No one said anything as they quickly slipped through the alleyway. zain stumbled forward, gathered his sword up, and slipped it into the duffel bag. As he stood up, he paused and stared at the spot where Odi was only just standing.

What had happened between when they all separated to when Odi...to when he caused this mess?

"Zain!" Jayden called, and Zain turned and ran through the alleyway.