“Xole,” Abbas said, “place your palm on this book.”

  The two and the rest of the Groundhogs stood in Prime Hill. The room was dim, lit only by seven candles, one on each corner and three around him and Abbas. The large man stood before him, an enormous weathered and yellowed notebook in his palm, holding it to him. Xole looked at its crinkled exterior. “I don’t wanna be rude, but what is this?”

  “This,” Abbas said, “is a list of every single soul who was a victim of the surface under our care. It grows heavier by the day.”

  “…” Xole placed his hand on it, taking a large breath. Abbas placed his hand over the older boy’s.

  “Now, repeat after me.” He said with a pause, then, continued. “I am not saddened by the unshackled, but envy their liberation,”

  “I am not saddened by the unshackled,” he repeated, “but envy their liberation,”

  “To repent this sin, I shall live with the earth on my back and their names in my being,”

  “To repent this sin, I shall live with the earth on my back and their names in my being,”

  “As a warrior, I vow to uphold my home, Haven, and know it with only love,”

  “As a warrior, I vow to uphold my home, Haven, and know it with only love,”

  “And with my Talent I vow to strike down those who seek harm to my home,”

  “And with my Talent I vow…to strike down those who seek harm to my home,”

  “For as long as I am honored to be a Groundhog,”

  “For as long as I am honored to be a Groundhog,”

  “I will never know rest, until the day I too am unshackled.”

  Xole breathed, letting his eyes wander. Everyone smiled on at him, Spit-Take, Trix, Salamander, Snap, Skinner—even Patchwork gave a less lethal frown. Looking back to Abbas, Xole placed his other hand over the man’s, “I will never know rest, until the day I too am unshackled!”

  The large man smiled, “Then, Xole, I hereby declare you an official Groundhog of Haven and the Underground Network. Welcome home.”

  Everyone cheered and before Xole knew it, he was in a group hug with everyone for what felt like an eternity. Finally, they all let go and the candles were blown out, the lights returning on.

  “I’m proud of ya, kid,” Salamander sniffed, slapping the older boy’s back, “I mean know I say it a lot but dis time I really do mean it!”

  “Oh Michael,” Trix sighed. She handed Xole a green-looking card, “Here you go, your very own Green Pass!”

  Spit-Take grinned, “With that you’ll be able to get ahold of any of us at any time. Plus it’s got a whole map of Haven!”

  “And unlike the standard ones civvies carry,” Snap said, “This’s got map of Empire City too. That and the red dots are the locations where the Blues are at, really neat stuff!”

  “So don’t lose it,” Patchwork said, “Stealing those materials took a very, very long time.”

  “Ha…” Skinner laughed, feeling his pocket.

  “Really, Skinner?!”

  “Man,” Xole said slipping the pass in his jacket pocket looking around, “So, what now?”

  “Now comes the real work.” Abbas said, “Your participation in all operations and activities surrounding Haven and the Underground Network. Your first official activity will be a rather important one.”

  Xole leaned in, “I’m ready.”

  The man nodded, “Tonight will be—”

  “Ey, ey, hold up big guy!” Salamander said, “Ya sure he’s up ta it? Dis might get tough.”

  “He took the oath,” Abbas said. He looked at Xole, “There’s no going back.”

  Xole shuddered, ‘What are these two talking about now? Am I gonna have to break out some other Groundhog I didn’t know about?’

  “Your first official activity,” Abbas said, “will be,” he reached under the monitor, slapping a stack of papers before him, “participation in tonight’s debrief. A lot of paper work.”

  Xole blinked.

  “BWA, ha, ha, ha!” Salamander laughed, slapping his back, “Ey sorry but I had ta. Ya scare so easy!”

  The rest of the Groundhogs groaned. Trix pinched the chain smoker’s arm, “Michael, what did I tell you about teasing the new ones? First Snap now Xole? The last thing we need is a prank war between you three.”

  “Ok, ok, y’ouch dammit!” he said, yanking his arm away.

  Snap shook his head while Xole chuckled a little. Patchwork sighed, “Can we hurry this up so I can return to my office?”

  “The Underground Network’s gonna want the details and specs of everything.” Spit-take said, “So we’ll need to be thorough—”

  “Trix,” Abbas said, “Write that everything went off without a hitch. Nothing more.”

  “—or we can just be vague as usual.”

  “Without a hitch?!” Patchwork snapped, “Some of those goons you let out tried to kill Xole!”

  Trix scribbled.

  “Don’t write that,” Abbas said.

  “Okey doke,” She replied

  “No, no, you put that right there in big bold letters!” the doctor said, “Right, Xole?”

  Xole looked back and forth between the two and shrugged, “Patchwork, there was more to it than—”

  “Oh never mind you’re useless!”

  “I’d like to hear this,” Abbas said.

  Xole nodded, “Yeah, I had a run in with those guys about a week ago when I was working with Mr. Holdover. They were assaulting someone and I helped—somewhat—but that was it.”

  “Abbas…” Patchwork said, “Don’t you think this proves something?”

  “Prove what?”

  “That perhaps not all of these people deserve a second chance?”

  The large man began to chuckle. He shook his head. “Oh, Rivers…”

  The doctors eye twitched, “I fail to see what’s so funny.”

  “You still don’t get it,” he said, “Men like him are no different than many we have roaming the streets now. The only difference is they were given a second chance to change their lives and when offered, they chose not to squander it. That is what we will continue to do.”

  “Until it kills us,” Patchwork muttered.

  “So,” Snap said, “Looks like your inside guy was right on the money, Abbas. Guess we’re gonna need to protect him to, eh?”

  “He hasn’t contacted me yet,” he replied, “I assume once the panic above dies down he’ll get back to me.”

  “But don’t you think it’s weird,” Xole said, “I…we all thought Red Collars would show up but none did.”

  “Yep,” Salamander agreed. He lit a cigar, “Guess prayer does work afta all.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Even if they did,” Spit-Take said, “There’s only two we gotta worry about. And I think after our show against Strongarm’s crew, we can take ‘em. I mean look at me!” he shook his legs out, “I still got it!”

  “Musta hurt didn’t it?”

  “A little.”

  Abbas looked at Xole, “Based on what Spit-Take told me, the Red Collars he encountered were both Materially Talented.”

  “Ok,” Xole said, “So?”

  Patchwork adjusted his glasses, “There’s a distinct gap between Materially Talented and Bodily Talented individuals. A Red Collar may be a bit more skilled, but the Blue Bodily one will always present more of a threat due to their sheer strength and durability.”

  “And we took out two dozen of them.” Trix smiled.

  “Not to mention they had Strip-Lash and I didn’t…” Skinner grouched.

  “Eh?” Snap said, “And how did ay know that?”

  “I could smell it on them while I was being interrogated,” he continued, “It was torture, I wanted to scream. The thought of being so close to it and my friends, yet so far tore me apart.”

  “Now,” the doctor continued, “If they’d been Bodily, then we would’ve been in some trouble. Spit-Take definitely wouldn’t be here.”

  “You can’t even beat a Blue!”

  ‘Wow,’ Xole thought, ‘These guys are no joke. So if we ever run into that woman again…we can beat her!’

  Abbas nodded to Salamander and Trix, who took Skinner and left the room. Xole looked puzzled. “Uh, what’s going on?”

  “There is,” the large man said, “one last thing that must be done.”

  “Oh,” He noticed Spit-Take, Snap, and Patchwork follow suit, shutting the door behind them. “But where’s everyone going?”

  “It’s not where they’re going it is where you go that matters.” The man replied taking out a wooden box. He handed it to him, “Open it.”

  Xole took it, his fingers trembled. He carefully pulled the lid up, only to look even more confused.

  There was a stack of light Blue neck ties.

  “Uh, is this part of some new uniform or…?”

  “Those,” Abbas said, “represent every single Collar you’ve sent to the afterlife.”

  “No!” he jumped, dropping the box. He rapidly shook his head. “I—I didn’t—I don’t wanna—!”

  “I did tell you there is no going back, Young one.”

  His eyes were glued to the box, “B-but I don’t—”

  “Xole,” the man’s voice was firm, “this is not a choice, but a duty. The lives we take are lives we freed. To forget them would be a disservice.” His gaze narrowed at him, “But to deny it is an act of cowardice greater than anything else in this world.”

  He picked up the crate and held it to him again.

  “This is not evil, nor good, but equal. I know deep in your soul you knew this before you took your first life, whoever that may have been. Look into this box. Stare into it—and seize it!”

  “…” Xole reached into the crate, taking out the blue neck tie and staring at it. It looked much different now. Its shape was alien to him and its color almost blinded him. However it felt ice cold and heavy, making his palm sting.

  “Do not be scared. Grip it. Own it.”

  He took a breath and squeezed the Collar. His body tensed, chills shot throughout his limbs, making him shiver. An image of the armored cop who spoke about his wife flashed in his head. He grunted—his hand loosening.

  “Don’t you dare drop it!”

  Xole used his other hand, holding it with both. More images flashed through his mind. The officer’s in that room, the ones in the helicopter falling to the city, the foaming face of the Bodily cop, however, as they flashed by, one stayed—growing more and more apparent.

  Brandon Amesworth.

  Xole’s eyes opened. His hand no longer shook and the tie wasn’t cold anymore—heck it even felt as light as a feather. He looked at Abbas.

  “What now?”

  The man nodded, stepping to the door. “Follow me.”

  The two entered the hidden Zone above the other’s, still ravaged from the earlier battle. Most of it was cleared out, except for the Clear cube which was pushed to the back to make way for a massive bulletin board in the middle. Xole saw the rest of the Groundhogs were waiting for him at the base of it.

  “Hey, kid,” Salamander said, “You alright?”

  “Yeah,” Xole nodded, “Thanks for asking.”

  The man nodded and took a smoke. Abbas gestured to the board and gave Xole some pins. Xole approached it. It towered over him, covered in the color blue, growing darker the higher to the ceiling until reaching the top where a single red tie stood out like beacons. He looked at his box of blue ties and pinned one near the bottom, one by one. Snap then joined his side, attaching his after Xole’s. Then, Trix joined, followed by Salamander—who dragged Skinner, Patchwork, even Abbas.

  Spit-Take forced a bitter smile, “I’ll get ‘em next time.”

  After some time, the group stepped back. The board despite being filled to its corners with ties still held gaps for extra space.

  “Whew!” Snap wiped his head, “Gonna need a new board soon.”

  “Ha!” Salamander laughed, “Like ta see dem otha cities match dis!”

  “Those guys do this too?” Xole asked.

  “Not really,” Trix said, “though they haven’t put in the work we have.”

  “I shall now update the count.” Abbas spoke. Everyone leaned in in anticipation as the man took out a clipboard and a pen. He scribbled across it and nodded, clearing his throat.

  “Starting from the top is myself; now at one hundred and sixty seven Blue Collars and two Red Collars.”

  Xole gawked. “He took down two?”

  “Guy’s really something isn’t he?” Spit-Take smirked.

  “Next is Skinner who’s ninety nine Blue Collars and one Red Collar.”

  “…So I get more Lash?”

  “In third we have Spit-Take, who still holds his place with one hundred and one Blue Collars.”

  “And that one Red I injured!”

  “Ya caught da guy off guard.”

  “In fourth is Trix. Seventy-three Blue Collars for you.”

  “Shoot! I swore it was more!”

  “Coming in close is Salamander, who’s now at sixty-eight Blue Collars.”

  “Da numba’s are probably off but I’ll take it fo’ now.”

  “Our sixth is Snap. Thirty nine Blue’s as of tonight. Good work.”

  “Aww thanks! But I keep telling ya I would have the highest if you count my contribution kills.”

  “And in last, for now, is Patchwork. No update so he remains at Seven Blue Collars.”

  The doctor looked away.

  “And, finally we have the young one, Xole. Based on what Sammy and Sunshine told me, I’ll have you marked at four—”

  “Sixteen,” He said.

  The room looked at him. Abbas seemed intrigued.

  “When I fought the police chief, I was surrounded by I think a dozen cops…” he exhaled, “but I managed to stop them when a helicopter got close…” Xole’s arm shook, hearing the sound of gunfire and screams come back to him. But before it got any louder, Snap’s voice rang out.

  “That’s badass!”

  “Damn, kid!” Salamander laughed, “Wouldn’t wanna get on ya bad side.”

  “Ha, can you believe it?” Spit-Take nudged Patchwork, “He already surpassed you on his first night!”

  “You say that like it’s a good thing.”

  Trix smiled, “You did do the right thing, Xole. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

  ‘No one your age should ever be forced to kill anyone.’ Mr. Holdover’s words echoed through Xole’s head. However he smiled on at the praise nodded instead. “Yeah, yeah this is for Haven remember?”

  Abbas smiled. “In that case, Xole sits above Patchwork in seventh place at sixteen Blue Collars!”

  Everyone cheered.

  Xole carried the same look on his face all the way back to Zone 3. He was so caught up he didn’t see the kufi shaped silhouette in his tent until they stepped out to greet him.

  “Ah, there you are, Xole!”

  Xole jumped, raising his arms. “Shakar?! What’s wrong with you?!”

  “I wanted to see how you were doing,” he said, “It has been awhile since we’ve spoke.”

  “…Oh,” Xole said. After another moment of awkward silence, he shrugged, “Well make it quick, I have work tomorrow.”

  ‘Work?’ he thought. “Speaking of work, aren’t you concerned about what happened to Mr. Holdover?”

  “Mr. Holdover?” Xole said. He looked around, “Now that you mention it I don’t see him anywhere.”

  “Indeed.” Shakar nodded, “I heard he was kicked out by the Groundhogs.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. You think it magically got quieter down here all of a sudden?”

  Xole looked down, then, back at him, shrugging. “Oh well.”

  Shakar’s smile faded, “’Oh well’?”

  “Maybe it’s for the best. The last time I talked to him he sound like a completely different person. He was all scared and stuff.”

  ‘Scared? Him?’ He thought.

  He snorted, “All that talk about fighting these ‘elites’ and exposing the ‘truth’, yet when it’s time to prove it he runs the other way even after what they did to Spit-Take!” he paused, then shook his head, “Maybe he finally showed his true colors.”

  “…Do you know where he is now? Perhaps we could—”

  “Shakar, now isn’t the time.” he said, “I appreciate what he’s done for me, really, and I hope he’s doing fine wherever he is. But I need to be here with the Groundhogs, where I can make an actual change. And if he wants to cower away, then so be it. I’m already past that.” He let out a breath, looking around with a smile, “To be honest I’m just glad there’s a place I can finally call home again.”

  When Shakar didn’t say anything, the older boy shrugged and turned to leave, “But if you do see him give him my best. Maybe he can even join the Groundhogs.”

  “…I will!” he smiled, waving back. “Oh and I have one more thing to say, Xole.”

  “Sure,” he replied.

  “You really are some type of brat, are you?”

  Xole shot back to see Shakar still standing there. His face stone, gaze narrowed.

  The older boy shook, “Of course you’d say something like—!”

  “Shut up,” he snapped, “The sheer stupidity of what you just said was already enough to leave me with at least several ulcers, I don’t need anymore.”

  Shakar approached him, the unusual feeling of a glare stuck on his brow, “I know the guy about as little as you do, but I’ve watched him reach into a dumpster to drag your worthless bloody body out and all you have to say is ‘oh well’? Loyalty, integrity…are these concepts meaningless to you? He should’ve tossed you right back!”

  Xole glared at him, his fist clenched.

  “Do you have any self-awareness, comprehension or even minute level of understanding to anything, Xole? Are you just so naive that you think people should just behave the way you want them to—?!” he stifled a breath, “These Groundhogs…I get it now.”

  Xole felt his teeth start to chatter in anger. “Leave them out of it! They did more for me than you and Mr. Holdover ever have!”

  ‘SMACK!’

  Xole yelped like a small dog, hitting the ground and holding his cheek. The young man studied him.

  “Your lack of a parental upbringing is showing, Xole.”

  “You—you don’t even know me!” he exclaimed. He scrambled to his feet and raised his arms. “Don’t touch me again or I’ll be forced to defend myself!”

  The young man squinted on at him. He then turned away, walking to the exit.

  “The only person you’re helping here is yourself.”

  Xole watched him disappear through the mouth of the cave. He wanted to shout, curse at him, but instead his body felt oddly calm and his hands relaxed.

  ‘I should’ve known better,’ he thought bitterly, ‘He’s just in the way as far as I know.’ He walked back to his tent.

  Yesfir scoffed, “You didn’t need him anyways, my love.”

  “Yeah,” He grumbled.

  “Hey!” an older man with balding heir said to him, “you want me to report that guy to the Groundhogs? I saw what he did to you.”

  “Thanks, but I’m fine, man.”

  “Oh, glad to hear it!” he rubbed his hands together, looking left and right, “Uh also, where’d that fine woman run off to?”

  Xole looked over his own shoulder, “What woman? Did you hear something?”

  The man looked at him, then around to see no one else. He shook his head, “Oh, guess it was my imagination. I know I’m old but I swore I heard a woman…”

  Watching him go to a tent, Xole shrugged and returned to his own for the night.