Chapter 52: Rankers Are Human Too

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Rankers Are Human Too

Everyone froze at once.

Paul looked down at his own hands like he didn’t recognize them.

Then Hana’s weight shifted, slipping off the blade, and he caught her before she hit the floor, his whole body moving on instinct before his mind had caught up.

Blood soaked dark through her lingerie, as it spread fast.

Years of cutting through monsters had taught Paul exactly what that meant. It had also told him exactly which artery sat where in the human body, and exactly how little time this kind of wound left.

"Hana. No, no no no." His voice cracked. Then the realization dawned on him. "Quickly Hana, heal yourself. The hymn, cast it on yourself, now..."

She said nothing, shaking her head in refusal.

For as long as Paul had known her, she had never refused anything he asked.

Instead, her hand reached up, fingers trembling against his jaw.

"Funny," she whispered, her voice, shaky. "You... finally see me. Now, of all times."

"We’re not... you’re not dying. Heal yourself!"

"I could." Blood caught at the corner of her mouth. "But," her eyes fell on Victor for a second, then navigated back to Paul, "With what they’ve already got on tape... I’d be excommunicated from the church, and live the rest of my life in a cell." She attempted a chuckle at herself, "honestly, I’d rather... pick this."

"Then what about ME?" Paul’s voice broke entirely. "If you go, what happens to me?"

"My... fine man. Don’t worry too much, you’d do well, even without me."

Her eyes drifted past him, finding Mira. "I lost to you again. I always lost to you." A faint, bitter smile. "I hated you for it for years. But truthfully... none of it was ever your fault."

Mira did not reply, but something shook deep within her eyes.

Victor saw it. How couldn’t it? No matter what happened this night, Hana had been a companion of hers for many years.

A person she thought always had her back.

Her gaze shifted to Victor next. "There’s something incredible about you. I almost pity whoever crosses you next."

Then back to Paul, one last time.

Blood welled up and spilled from the corner of her mouth.

"I love you... I always will."

Tears slid down her face as she said it, and a half-second later, Paul’s own tears followed, a broken sound TEARING out of him as he screamed her name into the empty room.

Mira stood off to the side, watching, her expression was one that looked like it had been carved from stone.

Victor stood further back, saying nothing, his own face was caught somewhere between the horror of the moment, and a question that had no good answer.

How did things end up like this?

—

By the time the police and Central Guild investigators arrived, the room had already gone quiet in a different way.

Lango stood near the doorway, watching officers walk Paul out in cuffs.

These were cuffs with runes on them, made specifically to restrain Rankers.

Paul’s face was still wet with tears, and still broken from what happened.

He didn’t fight them, and didn’t say anything at all.

Lango sighed and turned.

Mira sat wrapped in a blanket someone had draped over her shoulders.

There was a cup of tea in her hands that her lips refused to touch. Maybe it was from the scaring of what the last one did, still, she didn’t move.

Honestly, her expression hadn’t softened since Hana fell.

Victor stood a distance away, wanting to go to her, maybe say something, anything. But something told him that this wasn’t the moment.

Officers led Tobi out next, his face pale and silent with shame and guilt.

He did not even glance at Mira as he left.

Investigators moved through the apartment, photographing the overturned chairs, the spilled cup, the chalk-outlined space where Hana’s body had lain before they’d covered it in white cloth and carried it past the doorway.

Lango approached Victor.

"We’re reviewing the evidence you sent us," he said. "Thank you for that. I’ll still need a full statement from you at the Guild." He exhaled slowly. "We lost an entire team tonight. Worse, we lost a priest. Those don’t come around often."

He shook his head, about to leave, but paused. "To think all of this, happened on your first day as a Ranker."

"Yeah," Victor said quietly.

"We won’t be releasing this to the press. Not after yesterday’s story about the team clearing that Yellow Gate that became Grey. I imagine you understand why this particular achievement won’t make it into any official record." Lango’s eyes met his. "I hope that’s not a problem."

"I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way." Victor replied.

It was true. If he could forget about the entire night and return to a moment when everyone was alive, smiling, and laughing, he would.

Lango’s gaze drifted toward Mira, then back at him.

’The poor boy must be shocked to his core. Unfortunately, in this line of work, shit like this happens too often. Let me leave him with some words of wisdom.’

"One more thing, kid..."

Victor raised his head to him. Curious.

"...Rankers are still people, understand? They have wants, needs, same as anyone. Except theirs come amplified, and sharpened by whatever their enhanced senses and abilities are.

Meaning it’s double greatness, but also double the trouble from what normies get. Be careful out there, kid. People like these," he shook his head, "...they’re the worst kind of danger, because you never see it coming until it’s already too late."

Victor nodded. He suddenly remembered Hana’s words again.

’Rankers are Creeps and Weirdos.’

Lango turned and walked off to join the rest of the investigation.

Victor stood there a moment longer before crossing the room to Mira. He didn’t know what to say. In the end, all that came out was, "I’m sorry."

He turned to leave.

Her hand caught his wrist.

He stopped, turned back. She was already reaching up, unclasping the pendant from around her neck.

She held it out to him.

"Temporary wedding gift." She whispered, "This was what you meant, wasn’t it?"

Victor said nothing. He took it from her hand and walked away.

(Author’s note: I hope this was not too much for your stomach to handle. Please tell me what you guys think of this arc in the comments. Who do you think was most miserable: Mira, Paul, Tobi, or Victor?)