Julie scrutinized the papers on the desk, contemplating the weight of each word. Questions about the right path and the hope of finding solutions for Trevor echoed in her mind.
32Please respect copyright.PENANACPOP4ongIw
Cerilla's impatience cut through the contemplative silence. "Sign the papers; it's not like you're signing your life away," she declared, arms crossed, exasperated.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAijtoNrtXGv
32Please respect copyright.PENANAhHX196M4XO
Isabella intervened, her expression carrying the weight of personal experience. "It's not easy," she sighed, a mix of annoyance and empathy in her voice. "Being here, signing these papers, especially when your life has been turned upside down—it's a challenge."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAOremGuUjoZ
Caught between conflicting advice, Julie locked eyes with Isabella. The warmth in Isabella's smile softened the tension, offering a reassuring presence.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAKLt2ivV5oP
"Despite Cerilla's bluntness, she has a point," Isabella admitted, a big sisterly aura surrounding her. She placed a gentle hand on Julie's shoulder.
Isabella met Julie's gaze earnestly. "What I mean is simple," she continued, her tone reassuring. "These documents are designed to ensure you can live as much of a normal life as possible. As long as you stay within the boundaries of Council law, you'll be under the protection of the Luminal Accords."
32Please respect copyright.PENANA3LtHuidJOW
Samuel, standing beside Isabella, chimed in with a friendly nod. "You won't have any responsibilities to Vanishing Point, if that's what you're worried about. All we really ask is that you remain loyal to the Eldean Council, and trust me, those old-timers don't ask for much," he added with a warm smile, attempting to ease Julie's concerns.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAzJ5ZkOPRmj
"That's not what I want," Julie said with a low voice. "I, I want..."
32Please respect copyright.PENANA56nVdbkIJv
"BANG!"
32Please respect copyright.PENANAb3OMNHldiA
A sudden loud noise interrupted Julie's words, capturing everyone's attention as they turned toward the source deeper inside the building.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAD8mAElgNuV
"Oh no, don't tell me they're at it again?" Isabella remarked with a weary expression.
32Please respect copyright.PENANA7wQpzo4P4R
"Dammit, Tora!" a loud voice echoed from within.
32Please respect copyright.PENANASFe9jjx89e
"Yep, it would appear so," Samuel sighed, acknowledging the familiar disturbance with a low exhalation.
32Please respect copyright.PENANATTfhaXqe9o
Julie raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?" she asked, glancing from Isabella and Samuel to Cerilla, whose arms were still crossed.
32Please respect copyright.PENANALc0dzK7rWq
"The idiots are having another fight," Cerilla said with an irritated shake of her head.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAUn8lEyIHB4
"Fight? Who?"
32Please respect copyright.PENANAqeUU3brkvj
Cerilla rolled her eyes, the annoyance on her face apparent. "Who do you think?"
32Please respect copyright.PENANAbItr3ULP06
"Oh, come on, Mr. C..."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAUFtfAJokBE
"I know that voice," Julie interjected, stepping forward and gently pushing open the swaying wooden doors that blocked her path.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAZaGT5yG68J
"You know that I'm going to get it in the end!" the familiar voice persisted, echoing through the hall with a mix of frustration and defiance.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAYJjMxbBm2O
"When? After it has killed 50 people!?" the manly voice yelled out.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAL8766NXXBQ
"Hopefully not..."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAOJ5x7hzb32
Julie, drawn to the loud conversation, looked toward the end of the hall to see a familiar boy with white hair, dressed in black from head to toe.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAunOlOux8C7
"Tora!" Julie yelled as she ran past the wooden desk.
32Please respect copyright.PENANARTPLDuSr8H
"Wait!" Samuel yelled, his voice transforming from a shout to a near-whisper. "Nonmembers aren't allowed past this point."
32Please respect copyright.PENANABSGxxuSut1
"Way to stop her," Isabella remarked.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAummNM1x529
"Not like you did anything," Samuel whispered with a pout.
Julie raced through the halls, her pace quickening with every second.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAKtgbl71N6g
"Tora!" Julie called out. "Tora!" she repeated.
Julie, nearing the end of the hall, could see the annoyed look on Tora's face. She watched as Tora's irritation turned toward her.
32Please respect copyright.PENANALIJd2OpMTB
"Ah, Julie, good to see ya," Tora said with a forced smile.32Please respect copyright.PENANAfSCi5YusKk
32Please respect copyright.PENANA5zryKMLzSi
"Tora..." Julie pleaded. "Please tell me you found Trevor." She grabbed Tora's shoulders.32Please respect copyright.PENANAHPAoZekKfd
32Please respect copyright.PENANANYk1Wqhjis
"Uh, yeah, about that..." Tora replied awkwardly.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAmxLqDf4xhK
"We haven't found it yet," a voice spoke from behind.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAqn1WHNcFdo
Julie turned around to see a tall man with a muscular build, dressed in a blue open-button-down shirt with a white undershirt and black shorts adorned with numerous pockets.
"It," Julie repeated as she glanced over at the man.
32Please respect copyright.PENANA1Sq1PL1ZI1
32Please respect copyright.PENANAE6NgSja05I
"Yes, it," the man stated, his arms crossed. "That boy is no longer a person, Julie May. If you saw him as the creature he was, then he wouldn't have gotten away."
32Please respect copyright.PENANASzYwKE9THE
"What?" Julie exclaimed, her anger growing.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAylZBbdbp2C
"Mr. C, come on," Tora interjected, his eyes wide, trying to defuse the situation. "I think you're making it sound worse than it really is."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAzw6fQxMldu
"Making it sound worse than it really is? Really, Tora?" the man snapped. "That creature is out there, killing," Mr. C declared. "That's what they do, that's what they love."
32Please respect copyright.PENANApqaRVCj6ig
32Please respect copyright.PENANAIibq2nzlMY
The entire room fell silent.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAhbtAyIGrFe
"Find it, Tora. Find it and kill it," Mr. C instructed before walking away, weaving past rows of desks and people minding their own business.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAMdXXFohdtg
"Fun guy, right?" Tora remarked with a forced smile.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAtlDfxFDOZO
"He's a dick," Julie stated plainly.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAWd66NhLnSV
"Yea, yea, I guess he is," Tora admitted with a laugh. "Come on, let me show you around."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAQu57r2sXoZ
Julie watched as Tora, hands in his pockets, began to walk away.
32Please respect copyright.PENANARrD7soJVtn
"Come on, don't be shy," Tora said, turning his face slightly towards Julie.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAfgMZuTdDPH
Julie quickly walked behind Tora, following closely.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAr6zVgjrrJQ
Julie studied her surroundings carefully, seeing a handful of people standing around talking to each other, some wearing grim expressions, others looking completely relaxed.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAFcg5d9Dpp0
In the middle of the room stood ten wide tables separated with five on each side, leaving a middle path in between them. On top of each table were computers, each one operated by a single person.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAX8f6COOQjp
"This is pretty much the nerve center of the whole building," Tora said, noticing Julie's wondering eyes. "It's here where we first notice certain disturbances that need to be handled."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAgDpEvxfDru
"Disturbances?" Julie asked.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAg97899JVbS
"Yep, disturbances like your friend."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAQXJP8qK7AT
Julie clenched her fists as if she were ready to take a swing. "Trevor isn't one of your disturbances," she said with a stern voice. "It isn't his fault," she said a little more loudly, drawing the attention of a few people. "He just needs to be saved. Isn't that your job, your mission?"
32Please respect copyright.PENANAssnLML4nBu
Tora remained quiet, his back facing Julie. "To save as many people as we can," he said before pausing. "Believe it or not, such a thing is only a second priority to some."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAET2A8eEwie
"What?" Julie asked, her tone serious.
32Please respect copyright.PENANANZ4EwhwLza
"Doing the job means that people are going to get hurt, that belief is instilled in people like us," Tora said, putting his hands behind his head.
32Please respect copyright.PENANAWZxEU3ZfFf
"People like you?" Julie asked. "You mean half-breeds?" she asked.
32Please respect copyright.PENANA29hkTco56r
Tora smirked at Julie. "No," he said, his smirk turning into a full-blown smile. "We are VoinGarde."
32Please respect copyright.PENANAM4SRVxa7Bo
32Please respect copyright.PENANAmrOfMofdxI
32Please respect copyright.PENANAvYtHuo2ZDe
32Please respect copyright.PENANAie5WpSQgkK