18.

I hate this car ride.

I hate that we are all jammed together in here, I hate that Benson is pressed up against my arm, I hate that Jade won't stop crying, but most of all, I hate that I can hear Iris' body thumping around in the trunk of the car everytime we make a turn, causing my eyes to flick over to Scarlet.

Her skin is sallow, and her face is drawn. It's as if I am looking at a completely different person, like she died along with Iris. Now and then, I'll hear her say under her breath, "What is the point now?

"How are you holding up?"

"Better than Jade or Scarlet. God, Copper, why is this happening?"

"That's a good question. For power? It's all just so..."

We fall silent for a bit.

"I won't be leaving."

I see him stiffen in his place up in the driver's seat. "Really?"

"Really. I can't leave you guys to fight this on your own. That would be irresponsible and selfish of me. I'm... I'm sorry for the way I've been acting lately. I guess that -- well, I was jealous. I was jealous, so I wanted to run away. God, how juvenile. I can't act that way anymore, I have to remember that this is bigger than me. Than you and I. So I'm staying."

"There she is." His tone is filled with affection.

I smile sadly. "Miss me?"

"Terribly."

We drive into a wooded area, beginning down a forlorn road.

We have decided to continue on to one of Benson's warehouses. Apparently, it is one Indigo says Viridian spoke of, noting that it was left abandoned. Not only does this mean that Benson cannot trick us into walking into an armed warehouse, but it is also there that the Greens suspect Benson and his people have hidden the S.H.A.D.E. technology.

"This is like adding insult to injury," Benson pants from beside me, a layer of beaded sweat shining on his brow, his wound growing ever more serious. That's no surprise, given that I shot a good chunk of it off. I'm happy he's in pain. "You all are just going to trample all over my property."

I elbow him in his hurt arm, wanting to silence him in case he further upsets Scarlet. "Shut up," I growl.

He yelps, struggling not to writhe in pain. "Bitch," he whispers seethingly.

I tear my eyes away form Scarlet's face, devastated that this living corpse was once the strongest woman I know.

We drive on, eventually spotting a turn-off on the road.

Driving down a dirt trail, we come to a towering chain-linked fence, barbed wire poised threateningly over top. On it, a professional looking sign reads:

Attention! This land is the property of Benson Industries. Do not Trespass. Security is active.

"Liars," I grumble as we pull up to the fence. "I'll go over the fence and try to see if I can unlock the gate."

"I'll go with you," Copper says immediately, but Jade clasps his arm tightly.

"No!" she cries, "it's dangerous!"

He opens his mouth to say something, but is interrupted by Scarlet. "I'll go."

We all turn to look at her.

After a tense moment, I speak up. "Scarlet," I begin, "Maybe that isn't--"

"I'm going," she asserts, brushing past us. "Iris died for this, so I'm going."

I look around for help, but no one abjects to her decision further, either respecting it or knowing that she will not be swayed from her choice.

Eventually, I nod. "Okay," I concede, "it's you and me then."

Scarlet and I proceed to climb the fence.

My shin where Silver shot me complains worse than it ever has, and my arm that was stabbed by the glass shard makes my climbing ability difficult, especially with Bellona attached to my back, adding weight, but I make it to the top in spite of it.

Scarlet removes her jacket, placing it over the barbed wire, and without hesitation, heaves herself over. A piece of wire catches her jeans, ripping them, but she either doesn't notice or doesn't care. I follow her league, delicately maneuvering over the wire.

My wrist and knee are not spared, and are pierced by the sharp stuff, but I continue on like nothing happened, because at this point things like that are child's play.

We move quickly down the other side of the fence, and I am grateful when my feet hit the ground.

I explore the fence, looking for a way to unlock the gate that will let the car in. Scarlet does the same.

Just then, headlights shine over us, moving through the trees.

Everyone shares one urgent look before we break apart, Scarlet and I ducking behind nearby trees, and the others hopping in the car and bustling down the dirt trail into a sheltered part of the woods.

"This was supposed to be abandoned!"

"Keep your heads up."

We do just that, watching a beat up little car puff down the trail. The gate, with a clanging noise, comes to life, the gate opening to allow the car to pass through. As it speeds away, I rush to the opening, gesturing like crazy for Copper to pull through, but the gate closes too fast.

"Dammit!" he curses low.

"We'll have to go looking for a remote or a switch," Scarlet says, and everyone stands at attention.

I nod my agreement. "Then let's head to the warehouse. You guys wait here."

"Ebony," Copper says, coming up to the fence. He looks like he wants to say something, but stops himself.  "Be careful.  You too, Scarlet."

"I will," I promise him.

Scarlet and I make our way up the trail. It isn't long before we reach the warehouse, a slumping figure in the impeding darkness.

"We should stick together," I whisper, but Scarlet is already breaking from me.

"You search for the remote, and I'll search for the Demons."

"Scarlet!" I whisper as quietly as I can, "stay with me!"

She disappears around the corner of the building.  I sigh, wondering if I should follow after her, but there is noise  in the opposite way. I run up to a window, take Bellona, and smash it. I waste no time crawling through, hoping to God I haven't made too much noise as to be completely detected. 

I land in a dark room, lined with rows of wood plank. I flashback to my first encounter with a Demon, with Copper, with S.H.A.D.E. I take a deep, steadying breath.

Find the technology, grab it, leave. It's that simple. Right?

I move around the rows. Maybe Scarlet has the right idea. It would be the Demons that have those automatic remotes. Maybe I should be looking for them?

Redirecting my aims, I listen down the hallway for any noise. Nothing. I keep moving.

There must be an office area somewhere in here?

"... so then I...."

The voice comes from out of nowhere. I dash around the corner in the knick of time. Two figures come walking down the hall.

One is a no-name Demon, but the other...

I cannot believe it.

It's Danny.