“[color=82ca9d]"I don't think the mask is there anymore. At least, I don't feel like I'm wearing a mask, this is just...my face, now. I guess.[/color]”

Zino took a step back, listening to the voice emanating from the android. He narrowed his eyes. ‘[i][color=eee0e5]Is he… Completely mechanical? Does this mask change you inside and out…? Terrifying.[/color][/i]’ The agent frowned and stroked his chin thoughtfully; his eyes scanned across the others who had already transformed. ‘[color=eee0e5][i]I wonder what that makes these people…?[/i][/color]’ He shrugged to himself, returning his attention to rest of the story.

“[color=eee0e5]You… You all jumped in front of a train…?[/color]” The agent could not contain his disbelief. Whoever this [i]Ghost Girl[/i] was, she had to be remarkably persuasive to lure all these people to their deaths. ‘[color=eee0e5][i]Sinister, too.[/i][/color]’ Zino folded his arms. ‘[color=eee0e5][i]Drafting these people into her plans… Some of them are merely children…[/i][/color]’ He looked over Anni, Ascot, and the others, then at their newest addition: Ellard. “[color=eee0e5]It [i]is[/i] unusual that so many of the villagers are this… Complacent.[/color]” He thought about the woman who had offered him food. She had asked nothing of his foreign appearance or the strange circumstances of their arrival. “[color=eee0e5]Hn. I suppose we should follow our directions for now...[/color]”

“[color=ff4500]We've been brought here to do something, and now we need to talk to the Magician to know what it is.  So... We should go.  And do that.  Together.[/color]" Zino watched her smile and walk away, hiding the mask back in her skirts.The police officer seemed occupied with the homicidal maniac. He did not hear exactly what Michael said to creature, but he caught the general gist: they hated one another. Michael Keahi started dragging the would-be murderer along with him.

“[color=eee0e5]You’re… Taking him with us?[/color]” Mr. Bertran shrugged. It seemed like a terrible idea to him, but if he captured the person that locked him in the furnace, Zino would be hard-pressed to leave him or her as well. The bound man mentioned something about Miss Anni and it took all of his willpower not to stomp on the pervert’s mouth until there were no teeth left. “[color=eee0e5]Disgusting. You’re in no position to bargain, either.[/color]”

“[color=bc8dbf]Mikey-Michael, hun.[/color]” The older woman’s voice interrupted his violent thoughts. “[color=bc8dbf]I can jive with whatever, but before we go, or, do, uhm, anything? I think I’d like some food, for myself, and uh… He seems to need it, y’know, a real lot? We can move and eat, it’s cool and all.[/color]” Her face was warm and cheery in spite of their situation. Something about it was both calming and frustrating. Zino wondered how she could be so carefree. His brow furrowed. The police officer seemed to have his hands full with the murderous bird-brain. The agent plucked a selection of vegetarian options from Officer Keahi’s arms, giving him a single reassuring pat on the shoulder, and passed them along to the woman. 

“[color=eee0e5]Here, miss,[/color]” he commented, thrusting the food into her arms. “[color=eee0e5]Now, let’s get moving.[/color]”

As much as he wanted more information from them, getting to the Magician was even more pressing—and what he had learned from the group needed digesting. He fell in line alongside the others. The path out of town was a winding dirt road. Villagers gave friendly waves as they passed; their faces were dull and happy, and their eyes seemed glossy, contented and hollow. Zino dipped his head in recognition as they passed, but did not slow down for them. In the distance a large tower dominated the horizon, reaching up above the forest canopy. The road was flanked on either side by an outcropping of trees. Sunlight danced on the earthen ground and shone through the leaves. Despite the peaceful surroundings, an uneasiness permeated the air. 

Tristan’s words echoed in his mind. ‘[color=eee0e5][i]If the Ghost Girl arranged my murder...[/i][/color]’ The agent folded his arms around himself, rubbing his shoulders. ‘[color=eee0e5][i]Is Three complicit in it? Did she save me, or is she responsible? How can I serve someone who...[/i][/color]’ Mr. Bertran closed his eyes and tried to push away the encroaching memories. ‘[color=eee0e5][i]They wouldn’t tell us anything she doesn’t want us to know...[/i][/color]’ He pinched the bridge of his nose, rubbing beneath his glasses. A sudden realization dawned on him: he was chosen because he knew something. The rumors surrounding the missing children, the [i]juvenile suspects[/i] from the report, the documentation of the anomolies... It could not be simple coincidence that he had been murdered. If [i]she[/i] had wanted to control the flow of information, anyone in his organization would be a prime target. 

He shuddered. ‘[color=eee0e5][i]Do they know?[/i][/color]’