Gabriel turns on the news after they all finish eating supper, and everyone within earshot is surprised by the sudden announcement from the TV: the Electric Mute Thief has been caught. Of course, Niel is the only one who isn't surprised, given how he was the cause.

"Oh! They caught him!" Reed exclaims.

"I'm surprised it took this long," Gabriel remarks.

"I wonder how they got him?" Lydia questions, spurring some inner tension behind Niel's poker face.

Everyone listens on to the report until it's brought up that the thief is a minor whose identity is protected by law.

"It's a kid!?" Reed gasps. Once again, Niel already knows this, but he can't say to the others how he knows this, neither through his encounter today nor from Callum on Thursday.

"You're awfully dramatic today," Lydia comments.

"Shut up and go play with your make-up some more," Reed retaliates.

"Easy, you two," Mabel placates.

He doesn't let himself show it on his face, but Niel is happy with this outcome. It's one less possible threat against Callum, and should the others here need to go out anywhere, they'll be slightly safer, too; and, of course, anyone else who would've been a victim in the future. He should let Callum know when he sees him again, that is if he doesn't already know by then.

>>>>>>

"Hellooo!" a familiar voice rings from the front doorway, and out steps Clara.

"Hey Clara!" Reed greets.

Everyone—including Dwayne—is gathered in the living room and socializing. Since it's a holiday today, they've all decided to finally grant Illia's long-awaited wish and have a picnic at the park by the river. The only missing piece was Clara, who has now since arrived. And since she's here now, everyone crams in the foyer to get their shoes on.

Continuing with the streak of sunny weather, the day is warm and bright enough for everyone to forgo wearing bulkier sweaters and coats in favour of lighter clothing. Since Niel only has a single thick sweater, he wears it unzipped as a mid-ground. They still take the car, though, as it will take them an hour to get there on foot. They discover a mild breeze once they step foot into the park—enough for Reed to mention flying a kite. Niel doesn't know what that is.

Mabel spreads a blanket while Reed holds down the corners with rocks he found by the riverbed, and everyone else carries over the food and drinks from the trunk. It was all hands on deck to cook and prepare everything for this picnic, and the result is a lot of food. BLT sandwiches, deviled eggs, Poppy's signature fruit salad, even a cheesy bread that Dwayne's wife makes. No doubt they'd be eating well.

Though, with how much food there is in front of him, Niel can't help but think of Callum and Alanna, and how they're only just barely scraping by. Niel used to live like that, too, in cities whose names he'd forgotten as he ran for his life. The children around them playing in the park, the adults sitting or jogging by, people in cars driving past... How many of them are struggling? And how badly? The shadows hold close to their bodies, but the strong sun casts them deeply. So much he holds in his own—he wonders if, or when, the others will find out.

Reed's is in full view, though it feels untouchable. Lydia's is peeking out from behind her. Niel can't see Illia's at all.

His creation is everywhere else.

"Niel?" Mabel questions, noticing that Niel is staring off into space.

"Hm?"

"Were you thinking of something?" She keeps her voice tempered and soft so Niel isn't placed in the centre of attention.

"Yes." His voice is hollow, but within the cracks are fragments of pain from a life once lived.

Mabel thinks she should talk to him privately once they return home.

The picnic goes smoothly, with Reed only spilling his drink once. There's a lot to eat but many mouths to fill, so no food is left over, and some are even left with room for more. But most of all, Illia is greatly enjoying herself—these couple of hours have been the most that Niel has ever seen her smiling.

Clara leaves once they return home, and Dwayne departs shortly after supper as well. The day ends quietly after that, though Niel does notice Mabel looking in his direction somewhat frequently. Once he's ready for bed and lies down, he hears the stairs creak as someone ascends to the third floor. A scan shows the source to be Mabel, and she slowly pushes his bedroom door open.

"Is everything okay?" she asks as she sits on the edge of his bed. Niel believes he knows where this is coming from.

"Are you referring to the picnic?" Niel questions.

"I haven't seen you make such a troubled look like that in a while. What were you thinking about?"

Niel uses chains of Dust like spider legs to lift himself upright, earning a moderately unsettled expression from Mabel.

"The lab. Or, a time after." It's not entirely what he was thinking about, but he doesn't quite know how to put those thoughts into proper words.

"So, between the lab and coming here?"

"Yes."

Mabel has already heard this story from Medova when they first found him over a month ago, but if he's willing to, she'd like to hear it in his own words now that he trusts her more.

"I didn't have anywhere to go after escaping the lab, so I ran until I found civilization, and then I kept jumping from city to city, hiding in buses and planes to keep moving. I stole a lot to keep from starving. Some people are like that now in the city, and the picnic reminded me of them, and how I used to be..."

She gently caresses his forehead and down the side of his cheek. He ruminates about his past, yet he also thinks of those who are in poor circumstances now. After all he's been through, to see traces of a golden heart within him fills hers with an indescribable joy.

>>>>>>

"Mutes were a major driving force in conflicts from bygone eras, both in military and political power," Louise teaches. Niel and Illia's educations line up today, so Louise is capitalizing on this by teaching both of them at the same time. "Offensively-inclined Mutes were not only valuable on the battlefield, but they were also a means for leaders to reinforce their positions of power."

As Louise speaks, the two kids jot down notes from the history lesson. Charisma and strength of Mute gave rise to powerful figures in history, leading to notorious conflicts still remembered today. Louise lists off a few examples, such as the Roman conquests, the Mongol invasions, the Alkali wars, the Global Crisis, World War II, and the Ignition War—and prominent figures in each of them. Niel notes how a few of these events nearly led to the subjugation of the entire world, with the strongest Mutes at the helm. It strikes a familiar chord within him.

There isn't much of anything to do after classes end, so Niel considers going on another walk to see if he can find Callum again. That is until Reed arrives home—not with more homework, but an idea. He lures Niel up into his room, and they both sit on his bed as he fires up his gaming console.

"I want to play a game with you," Reed says.

"Why?" Niel responds blandly.

"Just because. It doesn't seem like you were doing anything, anyways."

"I wasn't," Niel admits. "I don't know how to play."

"I'll teach you, don't worry."

As the game loads, Reed goes over the buttons on his spare controller with Niel. Mabel and Gabriel used to play games with Reed a long time ago, but they were never able to play to the level that he could, so he ended up just playing alone or against random people online. After Niel maps the buttons to his brain via his Dust, Reed selects an offline versus mode for him and Niel. A selection screen featuring several colourful and stylized characters appears next.

"Pick whoever you want," Reed says, though then adding, "But you should pick a character with four or five stars. The more stars, the easier that character is to play."

As Reed selects a large-bodied character with equally large arms and hands, Niel scrolls through the list. All of the characters to him look interesting at best and strange at worst, but he settles for a short moment on a woman with very long red hair and wielding a thin sword. Reed gives an explanation.

"Oh yeah, her. She's a one-armed, one-eyed samurai who can tether you to her and prevent you from running away. She's quick, can be hard to block, one of the easiest characters to use, and best of all, she has massive ti—"

"I'll go with her," Niel says quickly to move this along.

They get into a match and Reed teaches him the fundamentals of how to play. Normals, specials, cancelling, dashes, blocking, basics on frame data—most of what's being taught goes over Niel's head, but he's surprised by how fast time seems to pass when the two of them mess around in the game. They take a break for supper, but they play until bedtime afterwards. As difficult as the controls are, Niel would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy this.

The following day, Niel decides to go to the alley again. When he arrives, though, he's stopped momentarily by someone in a red hoodie right at the entrance.

"I wouldn't go in if I were you," the strange man says. "Some gang shit happening. They don't like outsiders."

A scan of the alleyway ahead shows this is a complete lie; the only one inside is Callum. Niel ignores the man and walks in, even in the face of further dissuasion. Eventually, the man gives up and returns to where he was sitting last.

"Hey," Niel says as he approaches Callum.

"Oh. How's it going?" Callum responds casually.

"Well enough. Many sales?"

"No. My regulars never showed today."

"Too bad." Maybe the man from earlier could be to blame. "There was some guy out at the front of the alley trying to keep me out. Said there was 'gang shit' going on or something. Do you know him?"

"Really? No, I don't know him, but he's probably just a rival dealer or something."

"People are doing that?"

"Yeah. There's only so much money going around, so everyone's trying to get a leg up on each other." Callum stands up from his stair seat. "There's something I need to do. Wanna come with?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Pretty sure you're supposed to agree after you know what it is," Callum says as the pair start walking. "I'm taking Alanna out to a park."

"Ah, though I'll have to return home before five."

"We'll probably still be at the park by that time."

"I'll just have to leave early, then."

Just as they're about to leave, Niel notices that there's a man on the other end of the alley as well. Niel points him out to Callum without them being seen.

"Yeah, don't know him," Callum says.

One man on guard is strange, but two is shady. When he and Callum pass the man, Niel makes sure to keep his face unseen—something he should have done earlier. Niel can see through his Dust that the man is watching them pass with acute attention. More care is needed in the future if this is going to become a norm.

The pair watch their backs for pursuers as they journey to the daycare to pick up Alanna. She's happy to see her father but also skittish in Niel's presence, though once she realizes that they're going to the park, she becomes absolutely rambunctious.

Despite Callum walking everywhere he needs to go, his daughter is more than capable of wearing him out as she drags him across the vacant playground's bed of small stones, through the jungle gym and equipment, and up and down the slides. Niel curiously takes a seat on a swing, not entirely sure what to do until Alanna joins him. He copies the movement of her short legs as she propels herself forwards and back, and he finds himself in motion as well, though to a greater extent than her. She soon calls her lethargic father over to assist her in reaching the heights that Niel has propelled himself to. Eventually, Callum throws in the towel and sits down on a bench to recuperate. Niel joins him shortly after.

"She's quite energetic," Niel comments as Alanna continues to run around the playground.

"Always has been," Callum responds. "Being cooped up inside has only made her more so."

Niel's mind travels to Reed and how, despite also staying inside for extended periods of time, he's the polar opposite. Perhaps it's due to the difference in age.

"I wonder if other people will be able to keep up with her," Callum says.

"You're not seriously talking about adoption, are you?" Niel rebukes.

"I don't like it either, but I need to put Alanna's future first," Callum says despondently. "I have almost no money left, and dealing is making me less and less each day. If she stays with me, we'll be out on the street by next month."

"She may not have much to look forward to if you do put her up. There's no guarantee she'll even be adopted by anyone."

"She'll at least be fed."

"And lose everything else in the process."

As much as Niel hates Callum's decision, it may be necessary for Alanna's future. The street is no place for a child. She'll be safe with at least someone to look after her, but she'll be alone without Callum. Who knows how much that will affect her down the line. Unfortunately, outside of giving Callum his money, Niel doesn't see a way for him to help them, and he hates that powerlessness. A buzz from his phone reminds him that suppertime is drawing near, and that he needs to turn back now.

He says his goodbyes and returns home feeling worse than when the day started.

>>>>>>

Niel is sitting back and lazing after class when he receives a text. He assumes it's just Reed wanting him to update a game for him again before he gets home, but when he checks, he realizes that the sender is Callum. He's startled at this since communication between them is strictly for emergencies, but upon reading the message, he learns that there is no emergency and that Callum just wants a favour. He pulls on his sweater and out the door he goes.

Included in the text is an address located east in a run-down section of the city, so Niel proceeds with caution. The house at the address looks alright, apart from some minor disrepair and faded green panelling, and the front yard is tiny with some bits of litter strewn about. It doesn't look very appealing compared to the neighbourhood he lives in, but from Niel's own experience, having a roof over your head is better than not. He walks up and knocks on the front door.

"There you are," Callum says as he peers through the gap between the door and the frame. There are three chains still attached to the door, so Callum closes the door to remove them and opens it again after.

"You need me to look after Alanna?" Niel questions as he steps in. The inside isn't any better than the outside. The floorboards are scratched and discoloured, the walls are chipped in places, and Niel can see Callum's DIY handiwork throughout, especially with the doorframe. Alanna sits nearby, playing with the toy she got on Sunday.

"Yeah. Gotta run out somewhere." Wherever he's going to, it must not be to deal because he doesn't have his backpack with him.

"Not taking your backpack?"

"No. Alanna's supper is in the fridge, just pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. I don't have anything for you, unfortunately."

"That's fine. I'll be having supper once I get back home, anyway."

"Boy, do I envy you." Callum ties the laces of his boots. "I'll be back in an hour."

"Bye-bye, daddy!" Alanna chirps.

"Bye-bye, sweetie. Listen to Niel, okay?"

"'Kay!"

And with that, Callum leaves the house. Niel isn't sure what to do now, so he decides to go find the kitchen since he'll need to go there later. Turns out it's just right of the front door. That killed about five seconds of his hour here, so what now? Upon closer inspection, he discovers a note on the counter. It's a little challenging making out what's written since the handwriting is little more than a messy scrawl, but it lists off rules and things for Niel to do as he babysits Alanna, such as what doors not to open, when Alanna should eat supper, and to not give her a candy from the treat jar. Callum never mentioned this note before he left, but it's most certainly addressed to him.

"Niel?" Alanna squeaks. "Daddy said it's okay to give me a candy from the treat jar."

Callum knows his daughter well.

"Is that so?" Niel responds as he crouches down to her level. "Because this note your father left me says to not do that."

Alanna screws up her face as she realizes she's been had, and she screams as she clumsily runs away. Niel sighs.

While waiting for time to pass, Niel sits around in the living room indulging in a book of word searches he found. The place is in need of new furniture, but it looks like Callum keeps it as clean as he can. He highlights the letters within the puzzles with his Dust for a different approach to the search, but it helps surprisingly little in finding the elusive words. Alanna also sits nearby playing with a few toys, both store-bought and handmade.

"Niel?" Alanna says again. "Does daddy think I'm a burden?"

Niel was expecting her to say something far less serious, so this genuinely surprises him enough for it to show on his face.

"Why would you say that?" Niel questions.

"Daddy's job is dangerous, and he doesn't make much money from it. We don't always get to eat. If daddy didn't have to take care of me, he could eat more."

"You shouldn't think of yourself so harshly," Niel says. Those words feel hollow and strange coming from his mouth, like he shouldn't be the one saying them.

"But it's true! If—"

"Alanna." His voice now is stiff and gruff, and it cuts hers off in an instant. "Your father loves you very much, to the point where it makes him consider doing something very... stupid. He does not think that you're a burden."

"Okay..." Alanna folds to Niel's authority. "Daddy misses mommy, and I miss mommy, too..."

Niel breathes a soft sigh. He misses his parents, too.

With Alanna's suppertime approaching ever so steadily, Niel gets up in order to prepare it for her. He checks the fridge and finds two simple microwaveable dinners and very little else. It doesn't seem like Callum does a lot of cooking. He takes one box and follows the instructions on it, and soon Alanna has hot food to eat. Twenty minutes later and Callum returns home.

"Daddy!" Alanna calls as she wraps her arms around his leg.

"Hi sweetie," Callum says as he takes his boots off and pats her head.

"Aren't you sweating in that?" Niel questions, referring to the oversized coat that Callum is still wearing. Niel prefers the heat to the cold, and even he was having trouble keeping his sweater on during the walk here.

"Nah, I'm fine. Did Alanna cause you any grief?"

"Not at all."

"Good to hear. Sounds like someone gets a treat."

"Yay!" Alanna shouts in excitement.

"Did Alanna eat?" Callum asks Niel.

"Yeah, about twenty minutes ago.

"Okay, good. Normally we eat later than this, but since I was going to be away, I figured she should just eat without me in case I wasn't back in time."

"What were you doing?" Niel asks Callum in return.

"Job hunting." Niel can tell by Callum's tone that he didn't have much success.

"If this is all I was needed for, I'll be heading back now," Niel says as he prepares to leave.

"Hold on. Before you go..." Callum disappears into a room hidden behind a closed door and returns with some cash. "Here. I know it's not a lot, but it's all I can spare right now."

Callum hands Niel a ten-dollar bill. Niel is apprehensive to take it at first, but Callum's insistence forces him to do so.

"I'd put Alanna in daycare, but I can't afford it today," Callum explains, assuming Niel's curiosity.

"If that's the case, then you really shouldn't pay me."

"No. You worked, you get paid. Simple as that." Callum is absolute with this decision.

"Alright, then."

Niel bids the pair farewell and returns home, though on the way he realizes he forgot to tell Callum about the Electric Mute thief. Oh well.

For the next few days, Niel lives his life as normal. Classes, homework, he's even able to take Illia around the neighbourhood for walks. However, he never finds or hears anything from Callum. At first, he takes it as a good thing as perhaps he was able to find a job and get off of the streets, but when he gets no response back from a text he sent is when he starts to become concerned. Friday rolls into Saturday and still no word, until...

'Something's wrong. Come to my place as soon as you can.'

A response from Callum, and it's a dire one. Niel drops what he's doing and races over. Once he arrives at the residence out of breath, he discovers that Callum is correct in there being something wrong. The front door is slightly ajar, and the deadbolt and three chains have been cut away. Niel texts Callum a hasty message.

'I'm here. Someone broke in. Where are you?'

Niel's phone suddenly starts ringing, and Callum's voice blasts his ear as soon as he picks up.

"Someone broke in!?" Callum questions loudly through the speaker. "Where's Alanna!?"

"I don't know, I'm looking now. Where are you?" Niel answers with an unsettled voice he's trying to keep tempered.

"I'm still on my way!"

"Hurry. I'll see if I can find her."

Niel hangs up and looks around the house while calling Alanna's name. He searches Callum's room, her room, closets, beds, and even the basement among Callum's plants, but he doesn't find her anywhere.

Alanna is missing.