Waiting patiently, the cloud takes a larger form. It’s definitely a big one. What is he doing down here? He shouldn’t be here. This isn’t his place.

  As he gets closer, my strengthened eyes make out detailed clouds specifically circulating around the figure’s ears. Their persistence makes me conclude that they’re the big one’s natural nodes. Does that mean he hears better than normal? Must redouble my breathless stillness just in case. Pause my heart, pause my lungs, pause it all.

  “That could have gone better,” he moans in a low tone, propping himself up against the wall before sliding down into a sitting position.

  The big one coincidentally chose to rest quite near me. Not an arm’s reach away, but if I perform my fastest ambushing sprint, then I could be on him in seconds. It’ll take him at least one second to realize what’s going on. Maybe another one or two to fetch a weapon. Do I risk it? The mind mud screams yes, but my songs all still sing otherwise.

  Grabbing something from a pouch on his hip, he pours a red liquid out onto his leg, gasping. Steeling myself at his flagrant display of immensely valuable treasure, I can barely contain the mud’s desire to spring upon him. We must wait for the right time. He’s in my domain. Let him relax first. Allow him to let his guard down.

  After drinking some of the potion as well, he’s visibly more relieved. He takes out an etched, grey plate, occupying himself by reading it repeatedly. It looks identical to my courier instructions, but the color’s wrong. Is it for a different type of job? Finally, after concluding something and nodding his head, he holds the plate up to his ear. It briefly flashes before he takes it back down to continue reading.

  “Stode?” he asks out loud, surprised by something he’s read. “Gads, that’s almost the complete opposite side of the wheel, isn’t it?”

  Abruptly, he puts the plate down, and his status appears hovering in front of his face. Bringing a hand up to interact, the display shifts from reversed personal details into splotches of colors and pictures.

  Barely able to contain the bubbling desire, I allow a single hand to slowly drag myself closer with the tips of my fingers, the rest of my body completely still. Seconds are too much. However, I can't let this opportunity pass. Luckily the flow of sludge is moving with me, so I appear no different than any other unwanted refuse being washed away and out of the town to be forgotten. Yes, yes, ignore and forget me. I am nothing.

  Somehow, he keeps himself occupied with his status during my approach. He’s planning something complicated. Close enough now, I recognize some of the patterns. It’s a map! I see Tranas. The forest and Vastra too. I’m unsure about the rest of it, but that’s definitely what’s showing on his status.

  How close am I now? A second? Half a second? Is it enough? Can’t wait any longer. Can’t let this moment pass. Slowly creeping my body up to avoid instant detection from a clumsy lunge, I bend my legs and lean forward onto my arms. It’s so dark down here, the fool has no idea. An explosion rips out in the tunnel as I shoot forward and wrap my hands around another one of these precious, precious lights.

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  “A gob–? AAAAH!” the big one manages to barely exclaim before immediately transitioning into a deeply unnatural scream of pain.

  My grip is solid, so I repeat my technique. Rocking back and forth, I energetically pry and pull. At first, it goes well, but somehow the big one regains a small amount of his senses. He’s enraged, eyes locked on me. However, as with the young one, he only otherwise trembles and shakes, seemingly without any control over his body.

  Ripping it from him is so much harder than the first time. It’s been so much longer already. Something feels wrong, but I can’t stop. A particularly intense tremble of the big one’s body somehow results in an arm flying up and clumsily striking me. Fierce enough to break the skin above my right eye, I’m left disoriented for a moment. However, I don’t let go. My deep mind aches for this so badly, I’m not sure that I’d let go even if this fool knocked me unconscious.

  Suddenly another strike comes. Then another. And another. The rage and rebellion in his eyes makes me worry that the hits are somehow intentional rather than random spasms. Muddy blood drips down my face from the gash and splashes onto the top of his status during the thrashing struggle.

  Oh, no! Don’t slip, don’t slip. Keep a tight grip. Don’t let go!

  The blood runs rapidly down from the top of the light until dripping off the bottom. Moving my hands to the opposite sides, I hope to avoid them becoming slick and losing my grip. Pulling and pulling, twisting and turning. I refuse to let go.

  *SNAP*

  Suddenly the two sides of his status fold along the creased line that my blood traced. With a final hungry turn, it comes free, and I’m able to scamper away with it held tightly in my hands. The big one’s gone completely limp. Exactly the same as the young one after losing his status on the road.

  However, now what? It’s shrunken down into the shape of a ball as I tightly grip it into my chest to avoid losing it. Did I do something wrong? Thinking back hard to the last time, I recall accidentally slamming it into my face when it came free. Specifically into my eyes?

  Falling back into my practice, I bring energy to my eyes and the little ball of light up to my face. There’s so much detail. How am I meant to take all this in? There’s so many spinning little strands of something hidden beneath the light. They all weave together and make–

  Ah! It’s clearer now. I can see the beginning of one of the strands right there. If I bring this near my eyes, then I can unspool the whole thing and pull it inside.

  The entwined ball begins to unwind as it separates, rapidly passing into each of my pupils and briefly blinding me. However, so long as I maintain the constant energy channeled to my eyes, there’s no pain. Only a slight discomfort. Then everything stops, the light’s gone, and the sewer is dark and quiet again.