Midnight fell after him, landing on top of him and grunted. “I am listening! And I’m tired of you treating me like am I vase that will break if looked at wrong!”

Bane growled and said “enough! Get her out of here Matias! I don’t care what you need to do. We have to leave now. Knowing these guys their laying bombs to level the place to hide who they are after. Move!” He went running back to the fight to get more people out.

Matias let out an exasperated huff as he watched Bane take his leave. His eyes turned to Midnight now, the shouting and explosions becoming nothing but background noise as he festered in his frustration. His hands kept their death grip on he fabric all the while.

"So what's it gonna be, Boss? Are we gonna live or die? Because I'm not leaving until I get it through your thick head that we can't be wasting time like this."

Midnight looked at him and said “I’m not the one to win this war Matias…we all must be the driving force for change…I can’t put myself above the souls here…” she looked out her door and said “I have to do something…” she slowly got up and closed her eyes. “What you see next…please don’t tell anyone about…”

She held her hands out and said in a strong voice as she opened her eyes that were glowing silver. “Rose for your lady of the night…wipe out the dark souls in this place…I command peace!” She waved her hands out and shadows shot out everywhere. Any purists in the building were wrapped in the shadows and vanished without a trace. Those injured had their wounds wrapped and cared by the shadows flying around. It was like the night had fallen in the building alone, black all around.

It took a few min but soon the shadows pulled back and it was silent. Everyone looked around in confusion. Bane had had a purist on him with a silver blade at his neck, now gone, and bane looked around in stunned bewilderment. Dante was trying to get up, his head bleeding and a bullet wound in his leg.

Midnight stood there, panting badly as blood ran from her nose and mouth. She coughed up more blood but spat it out as she swayed on the spot. She looked at Matias then said “please…not a…” then she fell backward.

Words came out of Midnight's mouth, and Matias couldn't help but roll his eyes and scoff.

"Seriously?" he growled, "Prayers? I swear, you'll do anything exce–"

Shadows suddenly filled his vision, whipping and darting around like centipedes on the hunt. He heard the shouts that followed the purist's capture as well as a strange, zap-like snap that silenced them effectively. Soon, everything was silent. No shouting. No explosions. Just the lingering feeling of confusion and fear in the air. Matias stared up at Midnight, wide-eyed and quiet.

"Wh... What did you–?!"

Midnight's weight was pressing down on him. He laid there in shock, attempting to process what just happened. When he couldn't, he rose from the floor, carrying Midnight along with him.

"... Guys?"

Bane came running back to the door, panting hard. “What the heck was that…did you…” he saw the state she was in and muttered “holy crap…she really is the one..she has to be…”

Dante limped to the doorway and said “well the paramedics just got inside. Seems only w few lives were lost before we got here. After that it’s just wounds. What the heck did she do?”

Matias's eyes jumped from Midnight to Dante to Bane and looped right back to Midnight again. His chest heaved with every breath, his arms numbing as Midnight laid in his arms. He could hardly even articulate a thought.

"... I don't know."

He really didn't. He didn't understand what happened or why everything was the way it was. But he set it aside for now.

"... Let's just go."

Bane nodded and moved to help get her out of the room. “Do you want me to carry her?” Dante was limping on his bad leg as he looked around. “You don’t think our bug friend was here during this?”

Midnight was out cold in his arms, looking like a damsel in distress. Not the creature she was starting to show she was.

Matias shook his head, a dejected sigh escaping him.

"Nah, I got her..."

Not that he really needed to explicitly say it for the group to know, but every time someone referred to his rival-turned-ally as "our bug friend", he felt like punching a wall. Our? Really?

"It left the building earlier," he replied, "I saw it crash through a window. It wasn't here for this."

Matias started making his way out. The stairs were barely an obstacle for him as he made his gradual descent. He was too tired to care.

Bane nodded and said “then let’s head out. I’ll hit the office and see what files I can grab before they get everything tight again” he vanished as Dante helped Matias to the doors.

“She did that didn’t she?”

At the base of the stairs, Matias turned to Dante.

"No shit," he replied, "no one else here can manipulate shadows. Granted, didn't know she could do–"

He paused for moment, collecting his words.

"... that, but I guess I learn something about you weirdos every day.'

All the while as he spoke, he was walking. He more or less knew how to get to the van, although the capital had twists and turns that prolonged the journey. Once he got there, he unlocked the back doors and carefully placed Midnight on the floor.

"Do we have anything to help her in the meantime?"

Dante moved to the supplies and started looking. “I know we have blankets in here and I think a energy pack somewhere…” he started looking and then he said “I think she’s the one who pulled me back from the darkness…I know I heard her voice…”

Soon Bane was back with a box of files and said “no one was in the clerks office…how’s the boss” midnight was out cold still, cold and shaking.

"No change," Matias replied, pulling a nearby blanket over Midnight's shivering body. "Looks like she might be out for a while..."

His eyes met the box, curiously examining the thick layer of papers sitting upright.

"See anything of interest there?"

Bane nodded and said “I grabbed everything I could find from a time frame when the kidnapping started. And I grabbed the files on why they have saved DNA markers.”

Dante moved into the van and looked at his leg then checked Midnights vitals. “I think she’s okay…might have wiped herself out. Let’s get out of here then figure out what to do next”

Matias gave a soft nod.

"We can look them over back at the house. I'll stay back here and tend to her..."

He looked over at Dante, eyes widening when he, somehow, just noticed the bullet.

"Ugh... That explains the limp. Whatever. I'll patch you up. Let's get moving."

Bane nodded and got into the drivers side and started to drive off. Dante looked up and said “thanks…I got hit right before the shadows…how is she? Her vitals okay?”

It was a few minutes into the drive by then. Matias had placed a hasty dressing on Dante's leg which would hopefully ward off infection. The rhythmic rocking of the van was almost enough to rock him to sleep, but he had a job to do unfortunately.

"Ah?"

He was called to action. His fingers pressed against Midnight's jugular, thankfully feeling an undulation.

"Still stable I think," he replied, "She just has to rest. I don't think she's in any real danger... Right?"

Dante shook his head and said “I don’t think so. When did she really sleep last? I bet her body is just tired. She is spent…” he looked at the leg and said “thanks.”

Bane glanced back and said “where too? The manor or the warehouse?”

Matias scoffed softly.

"She didn't even sleep last night. I'm surprised she even had the energy to talk..."

A question directed his way made him look back.

"Uh... Obviously the manor. It's closer."

Bane nodded and said “on it. Check out the windows. I don’t want to take a chance of us being followed” Dante pulled out his phone and was checking the news when he said “scarlet just messaged asking if we were at the capital building. I’ll let her know we are all okay”

Midnight stirred a little, turning her head slightly.

Matias struggled to rise, the inertia threatening to topple him. It thankfully somewhat worked to his favor, pushing him towards the van doors. If the trees were enemies, the group would be in serious danger; luckily, there seemed to be no sign of bipedal threats.

"We're clear," he said, sitting back down. "How's the warehouse? All good?"