Ashton simply blinked as Jennifer argued his reasoning. It seemed she did have faith in our law and society, that we could simply plea our case and hopefully things would get better. This could be true, and it was plausible none the less. But Ashton simply didn't want to stay and deal with that kind of mess. He had no family or friends waiting for him here, and his money was useless here. He hoped that maybe if he moved farther away, away from this place, he could start new. Somewhere where his money was accepted. Where he was accepted. He was running from the horrors of the past come to haunt him. Run from the declining society out to get him. He wasn't on top and he hated that.

Before he even began to open his mouth to give a reply, the youngest of the group decided to open her mouth. She was definitely more bitchy in her approach, a stuck up know it all if he ever heard one. Telling a group of adults what to do and how it is. She's not even old enough to get in the club or have a job, but she acted like she knew everything. Violet even sounded condescending, scolding him and Jennifer like they were beneath her. His bodyguard Luna seemed the only one saved from the bitch fit that occurred.

Ashton seemed visibly annoyed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he let out a sigh. Then, he just simply chuckled, dismissing the young girl. He wasn't going to listen to an underage know at all who as soon as she walked in decided to scold him. He was above her. He turned his attention to Jennifer, completely ignoring Violet.

"Look, I know that these times are hard. And yes, it would be logical that we aren't criminals and they don't have a warrant. But frankly, I don't trust people or the government. I've gotten hundreds of death threats emailed to me just this past week, I had to make a new email. I don't think people are too fond of us. I mean, I have received death threats, but not nearly this many at a time. Just hear me out. While this is all going on, the chaos, all that, we should leave before things get too bad. We don't have to go to another country or anything, but at least farther away. Somewhere we can live in peace and safety for now until this all blows over. If you are indeed right then I will personally hire the best attorneys I can find to speak out our cases to the police once we get out of the city. Frankly, either way I'm leaving and so is Luna, we have decided this. We're extending that invitation to you if you so choose, because we know you went through the same shit we did. If you decide to stay here I understand." Ashton smiled slightly, nodding his head before swiveling his chair over and sipping his water again.

"See Luna, thank you for speaking up and explaining why we chose here and not something like an office building I own armed with dozens of guards. Because we tried that, and, well, that didn't work. I honestly am surprised we didn't get bullet holes in the Lamborghini, considering the circumstances. It looks just like the other two I saw down the street." Ashton offered, gently pushing the pad of paper away from him once it was eventually his turn. There were plenty of rich looking cars there, and it's not like he owned anything that wasn't a nice and sporty car. This is where rich people frequented anyways. This was a filthy rich city. It would be weird to not have an expensive car. Taking off a license plate also would be very suspicious, considering that in itself is illegal. They didn't have time to steal somebody's car that wasn't registered to one of them, since stealing a car will give the police reason to jail them. He could only shake his head and laugh. Silly girls with their silly ideas. Teenagers will learn when reality slaps them in the face and they really don't know jack shit.

"Look, to all of you, and the young lady who happened to join us. I simply wish that we get out of the city and relatively soon. Luna and I have already made provisions to do so waiting for us back in one of my off marked facilities. I simply needed to know who all was coming or not. Now, the address I will right on this paper." Ashton said, ripping off a piece of paper. He stood up with his back facing the corner of the room, writing it in front of him. "Now since I have been to this club many times, I know that there is a camera right behind me. Usually the security uses it to look at naked woman in here, not so much for security. So, the details of where we are going to go and other specific details we will discuss at this address." Ashton affirmed, writing it on two small pieces of paper, folding them pressed down as to not be seen, and sliding them across the table.

"Now unless anybody else has any more intelligible and helpful questions or comments, I personally don't want to stay longer than I have to."

Eli's face cringed the second he figured out what was going on. The fact that DeMarcus was the one going out there only made things worse. Eli never held anything against the Blake boy. In fact... Eli kinda liked him. Eli also thought DeMarcus took after his mother in all the right ways. It would have been easy for him to turn out very angry and bitter but as far as Eli could tell, he was a good kid.

After DeMarcus, next was Parker to leave. Eli didn't deal much with the sister but he had known the girls crack whore of a mother but she seemed like a sweet kid. It was easy to see that she was better than her mother.

After mutter a few cuss words under his breath Eli looked back at Lynnette. "No matter what happens... Keep your chin up and do not cry. You can not let them see you bleed. No matter what happens, you're safe." It was Eli's pep talk. It may have lacked some panache, but he was sincere about it.

He walked towards the front office but stayed as far in the back. Eli needed to see as many details as possible without being seen. He could hear the shouts, and even identify more than a few of the voices, especially Maclinton. Eli couldn't help but chuckle when he heard DeMarcus say they were all good people.

Eli kept watch from his corner. He was more interested in what was going on in the background. This was the perfect for someone to do something incredibly dumb and get away with it.

It wasn't until DeMarcus chokeslamed Maclinton that Eli even start to watch those too. He knew Maclinton deserved it and more. Then Linehouse showed up with three shotgun toting deputies in tow. When he heard Linehouse's order to call for State backup. Eli knew this was all about to go to shit and he wasn't going to sit around and wait for it.

As soon as Linehouse called for back up, Eli pushed through the front doors. "MACLINTON! JACOB MACLINTON!"Eli shouted almost jovially he had a smile on face as well. The surprise in the rioters was easy to see. The died down, they all seemed to stop and turn as one.

"Don't run away now! Fun just getting started!" He shouted with his arms extended but he got no reply. "Aw! Yall gonna go home now? Tell you what... Come night fall I'll be out here waitin for Yall!" Elijah let out a few laughs like he was talking about the best party the county of Harlan would ever know.

He started to turn back for the door. His hand was almost touching the door handle when he met eyes with Elston Linehouse. Eli knew if they called for back up it'd be a long time coming. It would take hours, if they came at all. He knew that feeling of calling for help but it never coming.

Eli turned back and shouted "MACLINTON! I GOT A PRESENT FOR YAH, SPECIAL! I WANNA SEE YOU MOST" If Eli hadn't stirred the hornets nest before, he damn sure kicked it now.

Eli ran to his truck and grabbed the bags he had packed. On his way in he lit a cigarette. As he walked in the front door, the enraged eyes of Elston Linehouse was upon him.

"What?" Elijah said like he didn't know what everyone was mad about. "They're coming back anyways better them pissed than focused."

Jennifer took into consideration what Violet had said, although she couldn't help but be surprised by the girl's strong attitude. For just a brief moment, she thought it was somewhat amusing to see Violet going off on three adults for the choices they had made and for their plans on how to handle the situation.

She sighed, the idea of having to leave her home not the least bit alluring.

"Can't argue against a corrupt government, huh?" Jennifer grabbed the pen and piece of paper Violet had passed on to them and began writing her answers.

What is your name? Jennifer Jureau.
What is your phenomenon? Healing.
Did you get a symbol? Yes.
Draw your symbol. "Hm."

She felt the back of her neck to remember exactly how her symbol looked. Once she caught a feel for it, Jennifer then began drawing it on the paper. It was a good thing that she hadn't planned on becoming an artist.

After she was done, Jennifer returned her full attention to Ashton who was pushing for an answer on whether or not they were going to leave the city with him and Luna. But she didn't have to give it much thought though...she would simply take a bag of clothes and some other essential items with her until it was safe for them to return home. The thought of whether she should tell her parents crossed her mind, but she would worry about that later.

"Okay, I'll come along." Jennifer said before she grabbed the paper with the address on it, that which had the destination of where they were going to discuss the full plan. Maybe leaving town for a while wouldn't be all that bad...

An old man sat in his chair. His chair faced a wall glass, glass that over looked the city of New Orleans. His name was Julian Guiderone. A shadowy figure that one reads of in books or sees in movies.

Julian Guiderone had been behind the scenes of some of the worlds most changing events. The rise of climate change, Russian intervention in Syria, The Irian nuclear deal and his persoal favorite, The United States becoming involved in the Middle East.

His face and body both looked younger than his seventy years. His mind was however, was frightfully quick. With an ability to think many more steps ahead than peers, if he had any.

A man, much younger than Julian Guiderone entered the room. A dark haired middle aged man, with fair complication and dark grey glasses. Everything about him was perfect, from head to toe, nothing was out of place. Not a hair, nor a crease in his clothing. To be in the employ of one like Julian Guiderone, perfection was the cost.

"Sir, if I may. The FBI has dispatched a SWAT team in Atlanta and Elijah Craigh seems is also in Harlan County Sheriffs office. How Shall we proceed?" The younger asked as he placed a fresh glass of brandy on the old man side table.

"The young Russian girl, Luna Yvilkov, send her a text message. Inform her of what is coming and tell her to exit through the front. The SWAT team will be overconfident in their numbers, a full assault through the rear is most likely." Julian Guiderone's eyes never left the lights dancing upon the water. "Do you need instruction on the matter?"

"No sir. If you'll excuse me." Not another word was exchanged and the younger man left to room to follow his orders.

Julian Guiderone's face cringed a just the slightest amount at the thought of Elijah Craigh. Elijah had foiled a plan or two in the past. It was all a matter of circumstances, Elijah had no way of knowing what was really going on. He was just a solider, nothing more.

Yet Julian knew, the stories told of Elijah were true. It seemed almost every Special Forces and Intelligence group had a name for him. THe Russians called him Baba Yaga, the English called him the Boogieman, the Americans called him Reaper and the Middle East called him Azrael. These names were hard earned, and spoken of in hushed tones.

With a few moments, the work was done. The plan was set in motion. A message was sent to the young Russian woman Luna Yvilkov. "SWAT is coming, leave through the front. Take everyone with you."

Just a block short of the club a heavily armored van suddenly came to a stop. From the rear of the van six men came busting out. Each of them armed with short barrel automatic rifles and equipped with a full kit meant for a full on assault.

All but one of them ran down a back alley to and entered through the rear. The remaining one took a position hidden behind a car but a clear sight of the front door. He also carried with him a shotgun, loaded with bean bag rounds. He waited with a finger on the trigger, waiting for the right people to come out.

As the five stacked behind one another, each person checked the safety on their weapons ensuring they were off. A single pat issued the order to breach the back door and enter the building. Each room would be checked and cleared, anyone resisting would be forced to comply.

It was a kind gesture. One that struck the teen as funny after all she had been told; not that she had much time to think about it before things began to kick off outside. DeMarcus was the first to set out and then the rest followed. Lynette hesitated before pushing herself off the cold floor.

'They're here to kill you.'

Her mind warned, as panic washed over her. She wanted to believe she was safe. Hell, Lynette thought she was safe until the other night but everything's changed. Everything and the Lord knew she wasn't handling any of it properly.

She stuck her head out of the waiting room. "Don't go out there." Lorrie warned. Lynette couldn't make out what was being shouted but whatever it was, it set DeMarcus off. She grinned the door frame as she watched him snatch up the man with little effort. "Shit." Lynette breathed. If they weren't fucked before they definitely were now. She took a few steps out, straining to listen.

"MACLINTON! I GOT A PRESENT FOR YAH, SPECIAL! I WANNA SEE YOU MOST!"

"Jesus, that man never knows when to shut up." Lorrie piped up once again, "Sweetie, why don't you go take a seat. Don't you worry about a thing." she shooed Lynette back into the waiting room.

"Don't worry? Don't worry. Yes, don't fucking worry." she muttered angrily before kicking the wall. A girl barely older than she was dead and there was an angry mob outside, yet she wasn't supposed to worry. Lynette felt like her head was about to implode as she silently wished to wake up once more.

Luna let out a small sigh as Ashton seemed that he was going to engage in a back and forth with Violet. Both were raised to be the best, being one of the rich people which made them prideful, arrogant... stubborn. Though these traits aren't necessarily bad, they weren't good for working together. But both of their smarts is something they would need, especially since there were only four of them. They can't afford to lose another.

It was a good thing that Jennifer decided to join up. Now they only awaited for the decision of Violet... however, it would seem glaringly obvious that she had made her decision even before she got here. She was already packed, and ready to go. Luna wasn't sure why her parents let her go so easily. Then again, with the dangers looming over their heads, they might have figured that it might be for the best if Violet disappeared for a while. And maybe the fact that they knew her (and probably Ashton) helped with letting her go. They must have deemed it safe.

Oh, there was this large possibility that they were utterly wrong.

Her burner phone vibrated, momentarily shocking her. Odd. She hasn't even used it yet. Her hand slipped into her pocket and took out the old-school flip phone that was the cheapest burner she could find, and then opened it. A text message from an unknown number - it wasn't even anyone from HQ. Who was this? Her eyes scanned the message before her and only a twitch could be seen by the others as her reaction, but it was her body stiffening and preparing for a fight. A hard fight.

She slid the phone back in her pocket. She should probably have another disposable phone, this one has been tracked by some unknown person who seems to know of what the SWAT is planning to do. The decision to believe them or not was something she couldn't make alone. Her eyes leveled to the others and said, "Someone I don't know sent a message. Said the SWAT would be coming and to take everyone and leave through the front."

There was only one entrance and exit in their room - the door that they entered from. If anyone was going to barge in, it would be there. It was closed, for now, and Luna strained her ears to hopefully hear anything outside. She had her automatic rifle ready, safety off and finger on the trigger. She was not known for being trigger happy but her finger was twitching. It may be a lie, it may not be. She's not taking any chances.

It was obvious that she was being ignored. Normally, Violet would just put him in his place, but with Luna clearly in his employ she forced herself to soften her image of the man. As easy as it would be to break him, especially with her newfound power, she had no desire to alienate a confirmed member of her kind and someone who could safely be assumed to be one. Not to mention that Luna would certainly retaliate, likely with that very prominent firearm over her shoulder. She sighed internally. No use wasting the potential resource. Not like I have a dissection stratagem yet, either... Still, she'd have to do something about that attitude at some point. It was dangerous, and she had finally found people other than her parents and closest friends who she had a vested interest in keeping safe; members of her own kind, her own brand new species, potentially. She retrieved her notebook and looked it over, stifling a laugh at Jennifer's artistry and the irony of it. She carefully placed it back in her guitar case and locked it before taking the slip of paper Ashton wrote on, incredibly tempted to read it out loud just to get even.

Luna's statement made her smile. She looked pointedly at Ashton before speaking.

"Oh would you look at that, I was right. And now we know how much our enemy knows. There's only two questions left to ask, at this point. Do you trust the man behind the curtain? And what do we call ourselves? Hmm..." She pondered for a moment. Aha! "Variantes! Silent 'e,' of course. The English word isn't fitting for a classification. And if we're 'Variantes...'" Violet gasped. "We can be the V-club! It's perfect!" She chuckled inwardly but kept a cheerful straight face as she said it. "Onwards, V-club! Let's see what the puppeteer wants from the newborns."

Jennifer clutched her bag upon hearing the news that the SWAT team was on their way to the club. She immediately stood up, looking over at Ashton who genuinely looked as surprised as her. It was a silly thought to begin with, but for a second, she couldn't help but think that maybe this had all been a set up by him and Luna. Although now that they were all here and were about to at the very least be arrested, Jennifer finally decided that they were just about the only people she could trust at the moment.

Without hesitation, Violent put in her two cents, and Jennifer wasn't really surprised that Violet was making a joke out of the situation. But she was only a kid after all, and maybe that's how the girl coped under certain circumstances.

"I don't suppose anyone has any idea on how we can get past them?" Jennifer asked, walking towards the door and opening it ever so slightly to take a quick peek outside.

"Why in the hell can't you keep from running your damn mouth Eli!? You trying to get us killed!?" Lorrie shouted at Elijah Craigh.

"Ought to throw his ass out there and let them deal with him. I ain't dying for this drunken pile of shit!" One of Linehouse's shotgun toting deputies shouted at him.

"Toss him out Sheriff. He's only gonna to get us killed." The first deputy shouted pointing his shotgun at Eli. "Let them deal with him!"

Eli's face slowly quickly turned into a scowl as he watched the shotgun aimed at him. "I'd put that gun down if I was you. Not gonna end well for you boy." Elijah's voice was filled with anger. He was ready to go off.

"Lower that gun Charlies. We're not throwing anyone out there, not with whats going on out there." Linehouse told both his deputies.

"How's your back DeMar? You might want to get your sister and Lynnette out of here." Elijah said nodding his head towards back room. "It's about to get loud in here." There was something almost sinister in his voice, something frighting.

"Eliiiiiii." Linehouse said know what Eli was capable of. The last thing that Linehouse needed right now was injured deputy, or worse. Things were already getting out of hand, getting a man down right now could be catastrophic.

Eli's eyes darting back and forth between the deputies. The very split second the deputies finger moved towards the trigger Elijah sprang towards him. He shoved the shotgun up as it went off and quickly jammed the webbing between his thumb and index finger in the deputies throat.

That one slight moment of shock was all Eli needed to get the shotgun away from the deputy. He didn't hesitate to rack in another round and point it at the other deputy that wanted Eli tossed out into the riot. "Get on your knees." Eli growled as his shotgun followed the man to the ground.

"Don't you pull that trigger Eli. I swear I'll burn you down right here." Linehouse said slowly leveling his handgun at Eli. His third deputy with a shotgun aimed for Eli's chest, as did Lorrie.

"State comes here Linehouse, aint a one...." Eli's eye's trailed off as something caught his attention. It was Deputy Cunningham and Isaac Reynolds. Both of them had blank, soulless look in their bright yellow eyes. Everything about them was wrong, the way they stood, the way they moved, each and every bit of them was wrong. Even their skin looked... Almost ghostly white.

Eli couldn't help but lower his weapon from a sheer lack of understanding. His head cocked to one side and bewildered look crossed his face. "The fuck is wrong with you." Eli said not at all understanding what was going on with the two new arrivals.

The shift in Eli's face was enough for Linehouse and everyone else with gun pointed at Eli to take notice. They were all just confused as Eli as to what was going on.

"Are... You two okay?" Lorrie asked with a worried look on her face.

Eli heard one phrase that instantly put him back on guard. "The Lion will roar, and the Morning Star will rise." Both of them acted and spoke as one. In concert they raised handguns, aimed at whoever was in front of them .Eli didn't hesitate to shoot both of them. The concussion from the blasts were deafening and seem to shake the entire room.

"Damn it Eli!" Lineshouse shouted as Eli walked towards the two men. Both of them had been hit and knocked backed. However much to Eli's surprise, Issac Reynolds was still alive, gut shot but still alive. "Huh, my aim must has been off. That was lucky wasn't it?" Eli said aloud as he noticed Issac's palm glowing red.

Blood spilled from Issac's mouth "We'll keep coming for them Craigh. No one can escape the Morning Star."

Eli didn't hesitate shoot Issac again, he made sure to hit him in the chest.. "Didn't miss that time, did I? Little fucking shit." Eli said to himself quietly.

"Everyone alright? Most of the bad guys are dead now." Eli asked out loud with shotgun at the ready, looking down the hall. He was ready for anyone else that might be coming.

Her ears stung with the echo of the bullets. The site of blood and bones laid fresh before her. Flesh had ripped apart from the bullets path and the life that once lit up behind their eyes gone. He shot them. The understanding why was proving to be a hard pill for the girl to swallow. "You. You killed them." she said looking over at Elijah.

Lynette had never seen a dead body. She wasn't even allowed to go to her grandfather's funeral because she was 'too young'. Even with Tille's death. She didn't bare to look at supposed photos that circulated. Not even she had that much of a morbid fascination but Elijah, he stood there with ease. Not a care in the world and it that bothered her on a certain level.

She could feel the acid bit at the back of her throat a moment before her stomach twisted and up came the contents of her stomach. An officer nearby stepped up to gently pat the girl on the back as her body trembled from the spasms. "What did he mean?" she asked before trying to spit out the foul taste that was left on her mouth.

Wiping her mouth on her arm she looked back at them with a pained look painted across her face, "He said there would be more. He said they'd keep coming. Is this true?" Lynette made eye contact across the room, "That mob is coming back, aren't they? And they'll hang us....or worse." her voice shook but she stayed standing strong. She wanted answers even though Lynette suspected she already knew it. Thoughtlessly she touched her arm where the mark laid hidden beneath her coat.

"We'll need to leave. Won't we?"

---

DeMarcus swallowed as the room settled. He balanced himself from the shake of the sonic blasts, but he saw that Parker had fallen over. To his dismay, the shotgun blasts had sent the bodies' blood every-which-way, including some landing on her sister. A look of pure shock rested on her face, and she stared at the body of Isaac Reynolds and the former Deputy. He rushed to her, kneeling beside her as she looked ready to burst into tears. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and used it wipe the blood from her face. "P, look at me. Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded, her ghostly white face crinkling as a tear rolled down her face.

"I-I think I'm gonna be sick..." She muttered, laying back against the floor and staring up at the ceiling, trying to regain herself. Her whole body shuddered as she tried to pretend that two dead bodies weren't lying five yards from her.

"We have to leave, now!" DeMarcus said, turning to face Linehouse and Elijah. "Sheriff, either you get us out of here, or I knock a hole in the wall, and we get out through that. We can't stay here. He turned and looked over to Lynette. "You okay? We're gonna have to get ready to move, one way or another. He warned her.

"What the hell are the Lion and the Morning Star, Eli?!" Parker asked as she stood. "I know some weird shit is going on, but people's eyes don't glow like that!

"DeMarcus, you bust any walls open it'll be the last thing you do. Take your sister and Lynnette, and go to the break room and collect yourselves." Elijah said never once taking his eyes off the hallway or lowering his gun.

"Linehouse, give me the dip shits handgun and extra mags." Eli said with one hand tight on the trigger and the other extended for the gun. When Linehouse did what was asked, Eli shoved the handgun in his in waistband at the extra two mags in backpocket. He didn't say another word as he slowly walked down the hall. His body was tight and compact, ready for almsot anything. The only adustment that Eli made was to rotate shotgun sideways and move the butt of the weapon from his shoulder to just past his ear. Eli had just effectively shortened the weapon. A shorter weapon was better for close quarters.

In truth it was a terrible tactic, the recoil would be strong enough that there would be nothing Eli could to stop the shotgun from flying back if he had to pull the trigger. However, he was fairly certain he had only one or two shots left. He could easily drop the shotgun or let it fly and move to the handgun.

Eli made his way to the backdoor, it was wide open. That in and of itself didn't bother Eli, but there was something here that was off. He slowly peaked outside the door by the time he fully outside Eli could see not only the rioters but someone else. Someone that clear stood out but for odd reason he couldn't see them. He knew someone or something was there but his eyes just wouldn't see it. Eli turned back and shut the door the tightly.

After locking the door he took a deep breath. He had to tell the kids something. He knew that staying was terrible idea. He could hold some of the rioters for awhile but they would get in before too long. If the back up came, none of them would ever see the outside world again. Running was a choice, but just as dangerous from a separate direction. There were only a handful of people that knew the hills like Eli did, it just so happen that most all of them wanted him and the others dead at the moment.

"Alright Eli... What the fuck are you gonna do now." He said to himself. "Should have stayed in South America. Fuckin place was a warzone but it was damn pretty one." He slapped the door lightly a couple of times before turning and heading to the break room. He instantly opened one of his bags and pulled out a map. He studied it for a few moments then picked the perfect spot.

"Demar! Girls!" Eli shouted. "When the sun starts setting you're gonna head here. You three will go ahead, and I'll catch up. You don't stop for anything. I don't care who or what, do not stop. Understand?" Eli said handing the map to DeMarcus. "Linehouse or one of the depuites will take as far as they can. Once we're safe and have some breathing room, we'll figure out what's going on. Eli didn't know what to say, he had no idea what was going on. Let alone how they were going to do anything more than run.

The whole county never liked him. Now they want to kill him. Eli was fine with it and in truth he probably deserved. If it was him that needed to run and shoot his way out of town it would be one thing. But it wasn't just him, it was him and three others. Two kids and an adult. Even if it was just him and DeMarcus, this would be a lot easier. It was the two seventeen year old redheads that worried Eli. There was no those two would make it out of this without some serious scars. Yet they were from Harlan county, they always had punchers chance to make it.

Ashton froze with surprise at this new information. It seemed as if the SWAT
team has decided to pay the group a little visit. Who knew the federal government was going to take this much action so soon. The natives and terrorists yes, but he guessed the government was just as bad. That is, if this anonymous tip was of any use. Or even real. But at this point, they had no choice but to believe it, as the alternative was just not an option in case it was true. Taking on a full SWAT team was not a smart idea for anyone.

"Oh for the love of god please don't call us the V-Club. We are not some superhero group. Besides, I lost my card club awhile ago. So if you guys don't mind, I'd love to get this show on the road sooner than expected."

Ashton clutched his five-seven in his suit jacket, pulling it out and putting the silencer on the barrel. He had a few extra clips in his jacket, but he didn't plan to shoot unless he had to. Fully opening the door that Jennifer peeked through, the businessman waved with his gun for the group to follow him.

Making his way to the front, he kept his hand on his gun but concealed by the flap of his jacket as he navigated through the busy club. He figured going through the dance floor would help them blend in a bit. They wouldn't be expecting them to waltz out the front door right? And there would be lots of people around for cover.

"Come on, we're almost to the front."

She followed closely behind Luna as they headed to the front door, the atmosphere around of them of loud music, flashing lights, and people dancing only adding to the chaos of the SWAT team chasing after them. Jennifer looked back to make sure that Violet was right behind her, and when they cleared the dance floor, they picked up the pace for the front door.

The brief moment of relief was gone after they stepped outside. Jennifer heard something land near her feet and she looked down only to see a small canister, that which instantly started leaking white smoke. Jennifer covered her nose and mouth with one hand, but her eyes started to burn. "Subjects are outside the front door!" she heard someone say before a figure in an all-black uniform and a gas mask approached them with a rifle aimed in their direction. In the midst of her choking fit, Jennifer turned around and attempted to put as much distance in between them as possible, but she'd barely taken a couple of steps before a pair of arms grabbed her and pushed her to the ground.

"Don't move! Hands behind your back!"

Jennifer knew that resisting was useless, and she complied with the officer's orders. Just when she felt like she was starting to choke, Jennifer was swiftly pulled up off of the ground and pushed away from the contaminated area by a strong hand that had wrapped itself around her upper arm. She looked over her shoulder to see what was going on with the rest of the group, but she couldn't make out the dark figures moving through the cloud of smoke. Her coughing started to subside a bit, but tears still flowed down her face as another side effect of the gas.

@Superman@Polaris North @DarkwolfX37

"Never said we were heroes." Violet responded to Ashton. "But as a Variante, you don't get a choice. You're in the club whether you like it or not."

As everyone left the room and started through the dance floor, Violet slowly followed without a care for what might come next. Just before she got out the door, the teargas started to roll in and the crowd began panicking. She wished she could say she was surprised. At least the text had been right, that was something.

"Don't move, hands behind your back!" she heard someone shout. ... Does this idiot mean 'behind the back of your head?' Geez, even strike squads can't police right. Although, this smoke...

Violet began silently giggling to herself hysterically. This was a good chance to do some field testing. She quickly slid back to Luna. "Hey, get me the lamb's keys. Take Jaybird's car to get out of here if you know which one it is, otherwise steal one. I'll cover your escape. Make sure not to let any of my little Vs get hurt, kaykay?"

With that she began to hide in the smoke when she noticed that Jennifer was being molested. Shit. Alright then... A tune began in her mind and she began nodding her head to it. I'm beginning to feel like a rap god... After a second of focus she'd brought out a fifteen meter spool of metallic wire from a compartment on her bracer. ... from the front to the back nod, back nod... She cleared the distance from the door to the right side of the club in a single quick hop and began wrapping one end of the wire to the metal drainpipe just inside the alley there. ... thinks their arms are long enough to slap box, slap box?

Clearly, this was no time for jokes. But Violet seemed to think otherwise and Ashton even went with it. She could understand why Violet would say something like that, given that she was young and could be turned into lighthearted jests. Though someone like Ashton was someone she did not expect to do that. But oh well, they were still teens after all. The blond haired bodyguard quickly followed behind Ashton as they began making their way to the front.

The blaring music beat against her eardrums, the constant moving of the people in the bar, the flashing lights - everything was distracting her. She couldn't hear the SWAT team nor can she see them. Were they already inside? It irritated her but it did not seem that people were even paying attention to them, armed and ready to kill.

The moment they stepped out, Luna heard a small clank. A canister. Almost immediately, everything in her body moved. She held no responsibility for any of them now - to Ashton, maybe, but their contract had ended and they were just simply travelling together as per agreement. She heard Violet speak, talking about getting Jennifer's, she assumed, car and giving her the keys to Ashton's car.
No time to argue. She dropped the keys in the teen's hand and then left.

Luna raised her gun but she felt someone push down the automatic rifle and then deliver a punch to her face. She managed to dodge the punch but she lost the rifle in the process. "Come now, Ms. Yvilkov, you should just surrender." The SWAT member was armed with only a handgun but it was already pointed at her. She raised her hands, looking like she gave up. "Good." He moved towards her, lowering the gun ever so slightly.

Chance. Take. Luna grabbed hold of his wrist, pulled and then sent a kick towards his face and then quickly letting go. The male was disoriented and the gun was now on the ground. "I'm surprised you know of me and you still carelessly moved towards me." She said. It's hard to fight with someone like him.

"Tick tock." The man said with a small chuckle and Luna realized that the gas had already spread towards her. Her eyes burned and she quickly slapped her hand over her nose and mouth but it did little to protect her. She glared at the man before turning around and running away. Get a car, and quick. She blinked multiple times but knew that teargas wasn't exactly easy to expel from the body. Once it's there, she had to hope against all odds that she would be able to perform her duties properly.

The SWAT member quickly tried to grab her to restrict her but she judo flipped him before coughing violently under the gas. No time to spend trying to get this guy to black out. She needed to get to at least one car. Her eyes were blurred and she felt tears stream down her face as a reaction from the gas. This wasn't going so well, she knew it. But with the SWAT member after her still down and hopefully the others too busy with her groupmates, she would actually get to the car.

The SWAT officer had placed Jennifer in the back of a black SUV, her hands remaining uncomfortably handcuffed behind her back, and in a matter of seconds they screeched away from the chaotic scene, that of confused bystanders and club goers who had flooded outside into the parking lot to see what the commotion was all about.

"You haven't read me my rights, you know," Jennifer added to break the silence after some time. In turn, the officer—who had by now taken off his helmet as well as his gas mask—only looked at her through the rear-view mirror. She stared back, but she was once more met with silence save for the typical traffic noises of a busy city intersection.

"But you don't have to," she sighed as she finally accepted the fact that this wasn't a typical arrest. Jennifer leaned her head against the glass window. She figured that she might as well attempt to track their path through whatever familiar road they drove through, if only to figure out where she was eventually going to end up.

---

A little while later, Jennifer noticed they pulled up into the back parking lot of some tall, grey building. She was helped out of the vehicle and ushered through a back door. It was getting late at that point and Jennifer couldn't help but wonder whether she was going to get any sleep at all.

"Have a seat," the officer finally said after opening a door and motioning for her to seat on one of the chairs on either side of the table. Jennifer did as she was told and then waited in the all too quiet room.

Everything had been a bit... chaotic. Suddenly tear gas was pouring in, and being at the front, Ashton rolled up and to the side to get away from the main concentration of it. Being outside, it would disperse much quicker. Suddenly swat officers were on them. His bodyguard was holding her own, punching and flipping people before running off towards a car. But it wasn't his car... she had the keys for it. Wait a minute, did she really give that little girl the keys?

As soon as he was about to run after Violet for his keys, he saw an officer grab Jennifer and handcuffing her, dragging her to a SUV. "Oh no you don't." Ashton growled, sprinting off towards their direction, gun in hand. That was, until he felt a sharp pain in his side right after a blasting sound came behind a car. It was the bean bag shotgun.

The former CEO crumpled to the ground, clutching his ribs as the SWAT officer walked towards him. Gun aimed at him, he kicked his gun away from him. "Get up, freak."

Ashton just smirked, spitting at him before enough bean bag round hit him straight in the gut, making him cough a little blood. Damn those hurt. As he knelt on the ground, the officer put a hand on his shoulder and tried to drag him up. That got him angry.

While getting up, Ashton's body had a mind of it's own, his arm swinging forward as his fist connected with the man's ballistic vest. Normally this would do nothing, and not hurt at all. But boy did it hurt. The officer went flying backwards, smashing into the passenger side door of the cruiser and leaving a person sized dent in it. Out cold.

Ashton breathed heavily, not being able to feel his whole arm at all as he felt marks burning themselves into his skin. He wouldn't be using that arm in a while.

"Gotta... find Luna. Jennifer's gone. Kid has my fucking keys." Muttered Mr. Conway, reaching down and grabbing his pistol with his good hand. He made his way over to Luna, or at least in the direction where he saw her go, coughing every so often and wondering how intact his ribs were.

Eli always worried when a plan went just like it was supposed to. Something always went wrong, its just what happened. Up till now however, things had just worked out like Eli hoped.

As the sun started to fall on Harlan county. Parkers and Lynnette were taking out front and put into a single police car that drove them out of town and to spot that was marked on a map by Eli. From there, the trio would directions that led to a small shack nestled into the side of a hill. It was one of many places in the mountains that Eli knew of. One of the places he would run to if he ever had a need to make sure on one could find him.

Eli was hoping however, that his place would be found. He wanted it found by those he promised something special. It took a few hours, but in the end, they showed. He couldn't help but smile. Eli was going to get exactly what he wanted. By the time he was done, he was going to send a message that anyone following him would meet a terrible end.

When it was all said and done, what Eli had done was nothing short of horrendous. Maclinton and his shit apple rednecks had it coming. It almost bothered Eli, he enjoyed it too much. That feeling was enough to remind him why he was in these and not with his wife and kids. He instantly hated how much he enjoyed it. His face twisted in remorse.

When it was all done, a single cell phone rang from one of the shit apple rednecks. When Eli answered, his face told the entire story. Fear, anger, a deep wish that all this would end and go away. There was nothing about this call that was good.

When the call was finished Eli couldn't help but frantically find a bottle of whiskey and took two huge drinks. He let out a massive sigh and lit a cigarette. After two heavy drags, he finally spoke.

"Pack your bags kids, we're heading to Atlanta. I'll explain after we hit Georgia." Eli didn't bother looking at them. As he walked away, he stopped for a second."I know ya'll are doing the math right now. I'll go head and answer it for you. You're best shot of making it out alive is with me." It was nearly thirty six hours to get to Atlanta

Just as she finished tying the wire, a SWAT member revealed himself behind her. "Get-" he began, before Violet slammed her bracer against his head, knocking him unconscious. She quickly grabbed the pistol he had and tied the end of another 20 meter line of metal wire around the trigger, giving it enough slack that it didn't pull it but knotted so that additional tension on the wire would instantly fire the gun. ... a laptop in my back pocket... She picked up a brick and quickly ran to the Lamborghini, unlocking it and getting inside. It took a few moments for her to figure out how to adjust her power correctly, and finally activated the ignition and set the car in drive. She noted that there was a fire hydrant directly across the street in the direction the car was facing, and tied the brick to the gas pedal, as well as the steering wheel to keep it from pushing down on it.

Satisfied, she popped the hood and got out, tying the end of the wire that connected to the drainage pipe to the car's battery output, electrifying it. To finish her plan, she put the pistol into the gas canister and turned the safety off. Now she just needed to wait for the others to escape. With the SWAT vehicles blocking the road to the east, she was confident that her plan would work.