If Aura wasn’t lagging before, the beer surely caused her pace to decline. She had only made it across the street and up a few storefronts before she heard commotion. After swivelling around to spectate, it became apparent what was transpiring. The stranger who had just been sitting next to her had bolted from the tavern, causing Soren to bark something at him before the familiar, but still terrible pop rang in the air, causing the woman to instinctually plug her ears with her fingers. Against protocol, Aura approached inconspicuously, remaining as flush to the storefronts as she could until she was directly across the street from the scene, picking a graffitied aluminum garbage can to crouch behind. It was confirmed to be the same man whose brains and blood now covered the asphalt, glistening in the high noon sunlight like a red, rushing river. His body laid crumpled like the litter she’d be cleaning all day. “What a waste of a dollar,” she mumbled to herself. Soon, another man exited the tavern, one that had not been in there before. While the first man was a stranger purely for the fact that Aura had not seen him before, this man was a much different definition of the word. His street clothes were nice and cleanly, but they weren’t those of an official or an officer, plus much too understated for Subsection’s A or C. They loved to flash their wealth with every given opportunity. He was fit, and by the looks of it, well fed, and he towered over the other men he approached. Aura, in her day dreaming, must have risen from her semi-crouched position, because she caught the eye of Soren. “Holland! You want the baton, again?” He barked, quickly retrieving it from his utility belt and extending it with a quick flick of his wrist. “No, thanks,” she replied snarkily, raising her hands in submission, the arm grabber still clutched in one. The last time he used the baton, he cracked one of her ribs. Soren retracted the stick and stuck it back in his belt. “Then keep moving.” Aura followed orders, retreating down the sidewalk, but not without a glance back to the group of men. Eye contact with the strange man was made, causing her to quickly snap her head forward and quicken her pace. Why was he here? And what the fuck was happening in Unity? [center]***[/center] Hours later, Aura was back in her room preparing for the meeting she had that night. Due to the event at the tavern earlier, the meeting had been moved out near the farming fields in a dilapidated barn. The cause had runners on their payroll, and one had found her on the street, informing her of the change without even stopping to speak to her. Her hair was now braided down her back, and a coal pencil that Del had used for his art was used as a makeshift eyeliner. Her work suit was replaced with a pair of black pants, a black tank top, and an olive green utility jacket that had once been her fathers. Before leaving, she lightly rapped on Del’s door. Once he answered, she scooted inside quickly and didn’t speak until the door clicked behind her. “If the meeting runs late, I’m staying at my dad’s. He’s close to the spot and I don’t want to risk getting caught after curfew.” Del nodded. “Got it.” “You sure you don’t want to come?” He chuckled. “You know I’m no vigilante.” Aura smiled slightly. The cause made it clear to never speak of their efforts to those who were involved, but she figured it was better to have someone to cover for her than not. Plus, she trusted Del with her life. “Okay. If anyone asks, I’m at my dad’s.” “You got it.” Aura patted his shoulder before sliding out of the room and down the dark hallway, the excitement of another gathering vibrating throughout her body. [center]***[/center] Around thirty people had filed into the barn which was illuminated by lanterns scattered along its walls. Everyone who could brought either bread, alcohol, or another favor to share with the group, and while having to remain quiet, the room was alive with warmth and camaraderie. Once the meeting started, Aura found a cozy spot on a stack of hay, cradling a bottle of ale that Gregor had brought especially for her. That same man was the one who began the meeting, taking a spot in the center of the semicircle that had formed. “We are short quite a few people tonight. Calin, along with a few others, couldn’t be found by any of our runners. Milo and Seena are on duty in subsection C. And last we heard, the same ten we’ve been missing are still jailed. Alive though.” The crowd sighed in relief at the news. Many times, those from subsection F didn’t make it out. “There was an unidentified man shot today outside of Dean and Mae’s tavern. According to Mae, another man came in to question him, the man who was shot attacked him, then ran outside to meet the enforcers waiting for him.” Aura looked down, hoping to not be called on. Mae was usually the only one who got so lucky. “Aura?” She sighed, looking up at the room who now had all eyes on her. “Both men I’ve never seen before. The one who was shot looked rough. If not a citizen of Unity, he may have been from B or E. But the other man…” she took another breath, “definitely was not from around here. He was speaking with the AE after the incident.” The group began to murmur, and Gregor raised his hands as a sign to quiet down. “We don’t know how long he’ll be in Unity, so, Aura?” [i]Damn it.[/i] “You’re the only one who could recognize him besides Mae. We need you to do some recon.” “Yes, sir,” she nodded, her eyes burning a hole in the dirt floor beneath her. Though she’d do anything for the cause, watching someone who was working with the AE seemed like a good way to get another strike, [i]or worse[/i]. The rest of the meeting continued on, detailing other recent events in Unity, along with some future plans of retaliation against the AE and the AA, soon to come to fruition. But for now, they just relied on gathering intel, which is the job Aura was on before she had gotten caught “stealing money.” Many of the members had a deep seeded hatred for the government, for the AE, for those who lived in luxury and comfort in subsections A and C, and it was all justified in Aura’s eyes. While they lived off tiny rations and were worked to the bone, the other two subsections ate feasts and enjoyed games and hobbies. While subsection F were brutalized and heavily monitored by enforcers, A and C lived with much more freedom and power over their lives. The AA officials were only plucked from those subsections, so the nepotism continued while the poorer subsections crumbled. The focus of the cause was to find a way to bring balance to the factions, whether through negotiation or by force. The meeting went on for another half hour or so, then the group was free to partake in some revelry before curfew hit. Aura, not feeling particularly social, remained on her stack of hay, sipping the bottle of ale frequently. Gregor plopped down next to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders. “How’s it taste?” “Delicious,” she nodded, wiping a drop of the beverage from her lips. “Thank you.” “Of course. I don’t play favorites, but if I did, you’d be up there.” Aura rolled her eyes as a smile began to form in the corners of her mouth. “You’re full of shit, Gregor.” “Oh come on,” he smiled back, turning his body towards her. “What do you say we have some fun like old times, huh? You can stay at my place again. I scored some eggs that I can make in the morning.” “It’s tempting,” she sighed, patting his head, “but I have work tomorrow. I need to get back to my room.” “Want me to walk you?” “I’ll be okay, Gregor.” [center]***[/center] Aura had made it back to Atlantic with an hour to spare before curfew, and with Mae’s tavern closed early for the meeting, she decided to go to another pub across town. It was packed, many of the patrons playing darts and other games as they powered through as much alcohol as they could before closing. Aura found the last seat at the bar, and squeezed herself between two other people to grab it. The bartender quickly took her order, setting down a mug larger than her head filled to the brim with frothy ale. She lifted it and took four to five gulps. In her observance of the others across the bar, her eyes spotted the man from earlier, her new objective given to her by the cause. [i]Serendipity.[/i] Aura left her money on the bar and got up, holding the large mug carefully as she weaved through the crowded pub until closing in on her target. [i]Don’t fuck this up. Don’t fuck this up.[/i] Just as she began to pass him, she allowed about a few gulps worth of ale to shoot from the glass, landing right on the man’s shoulder and chest. “Wow, I am [i]so[/i] sorry,” Aura called out, hastily setting her mug down and grabbing a rag from the bar to drag across his shirt in a fake attempt to help mop up the liquid. “I was just gonna throw some darts over here,” she continued to explain, pointing to the corner behind the man. When their eyes met, the acting job continued. “I saw you earlier! At the other tavern. I’m Aura.” She stuck a frail but confident hand out to the man to greet him. “You like darts?”