Incline fidgeted with the gas mask covering his face as he waited for the gates into the city to open, hoping none of the Sageguards sitting around him noticed his unease. This was his only chance to get back inside after his exile, and it had to work.
The gates slid open and the truck lurched forward. Several minutes later, the truck came to a stop, and Incline and the other Safeguards were ushered out, where they were handed a Dusting Staff and a power pack was strapped to their backs.
His heart thudding, Incline forced his hands not to tremble as he took the staff and power pack.
Just keep calm, he told himself. For Fryia.
Unsure of what else to do, Incline fell into step behind one of the other Safeguards as they hurried to surround a building. And when they stepped around the corner, Incline knew this was his opening.
Ignoring the feeling of nausea, Incline steeled himself. “Hey,” he called. Before the other guard could turn, Incline swept the staff around and slammed it into him.
The guard crumpled to the ground, and Incline quickly hooked his staff to his back and grabbed the guard's arms, pulling him down an alleyway. With that finished, he glanced around.
Once he was sure it was clear, he turned and bolted down the street.
The further he went, the cleaner the streets became. The trash that littered the ground slowly vanished, and the dirt-covered ground was soon replaced with white stones and steel as he left the Outerring behind, and he entered the Innercircle.
He knew the moment he crossed the line because everything became familiar to him, and he started his search for Elms Street, staying in the shadows as he knew his Safeguard riot gear would draw attention now that he had entered the Innercicle.
Time seemed to drag as he made his way to the light blue house on the end of Elms Street. He crept up to it and moved around the back. He swept his gaze around,making sure he was alone as he unhooked the staff from his back.
Holding the rod firmly in his hands, Incline stepped toward the back window and thrust it forward. The glass rained down, both inside the house and onto the fake grass that surrounded the house.
Knowing he didn't have much time now, Incline slung the staff back over his shoulder and hoisted himself through the window, the glass crunching under his boots as he landed inside the house and glanced around the small library.
He clenched his fists at his sides as he realized how much had changed in that room since the last time he was there. But now wasn't the time for that; he had something important to retrieve before they realized he was there.
Carefully stepping over the glass, he exited the library and headed for the stairs, quietly creeping across the floor as he realized the light in the kitchen was on. For a second, he thought about going and making whoever was living in his house pay, but... What was upstairs was far more important.
He pulled his gaze away from the light and slipped up the stairs, making his way toward the door at the end of the hall. He tested the door and it easily slid open, revealing a child's bedroom.
Swallowing the lump in his throat, Incline edged his way toward the bed and knelt beside the small figure wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket. Hesitantly, he reached out and gently shook the little girl.
She opened her eyes, still half asleep until she turned over and saw him. She squealed and scrambled away from him. “Please, don't take me away too,” she cried.
Incline's heart clenched as he scrambled to pull the pink bunny out from under his jacket, and he held it out to her.
Hesitantly, she took it from him, her eyes growing wide as she looked from it to him. “Daddy? Daddy!” She flung herself forward, and he gladly caught her up in his arms. “You came back for me!”
“My little Fryia, ” he whispered. “I’ll always come for you. Now, hurry and get your coat. We've got to go.”
