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"Do you see that, Hyde? Something's glowing in the distance." Arnest turned the wheel steadily and slowed the vehicle.

"Smoke is coming from that direction." Hyde sat up.

Ahead of them were 3 large tents pitched around a large fire. Many men in ripped ponchos and pants with tassels were seated on the dirt, taking in the heat from the flames.

"It's an entire camp of poachers..." Arnest sucked in a breath. "There has to be at least 20 men over there."

"Park the car over there, behind the cracked stone."

"Alright." Arnest carefully made sure the car was parked and hidden out of sight from the camp. He turned on the camouflage setting on the dashboard, and the exterior became transparent as if nothing was there.

Harper watched Hyde get out of the car first. Then he yanked open her door and dragged her out roughly, before snatching the duct tape off her lips.

"Ow!" Harper yelped before narrowing her eyes at him.

He cut the tape off her wrists as well.

"What are you doing? Letting me go? Leaving me to die out here on my own?" Harper spat and massaged her wrists. She thought he was despicable.

She was miles away from any civilization. This was the perfect spot for him to leave her. She wouldn't be able to make it back to the capital on foot without sustenance.

And Southern Haylestorm was nothing but dry forest. Food and water were practically non-existent in this region.

"On the contrary," Hyde quickly wrapped his strong hand around her bicep and tightened his hold. With a slight smirk, he turned his head to face her. "He gets pretty snippy when you pull tricks. It's annoying. So I'm keeping a close eye on you."

He stepped forward in the direction of the tents. "Plus, if anything goes wrong, I can always exchange Enzo's worker for a worthless vixen like you."

"Ugh, you're so deplorable!" Harper seethed.

"Music to my ears, vixen. Keep it coming."

"Just get rid of me already." Harper dragged her feet. She was mentally and emotionally exhausted after being separated from Yanpu. She prayed to the overseers that he was okay.

The thought of Yanpu being abandoned at the Brothel was driving her insane.

"I'm considering it. But I don't want to stain my hands in blood now. It's not exactly the best first impression." Hyde teased.

"It hurts!" She whined when his grip became even stronger. She could feel her pulse.

"Then keep up."

As they approached the campfire, one of the men who was sitting aside eating some jerky noticed them.

He stood and wiped his face, making sure he wasn't seeing just any random shadows. "Oy, Cap'n. Seems like we've got ourselves some trespassers."

Another man with a Stetson hat on with a thick black beard and combat boots reached for his belt. "Who goes there?" He growled. "One more step and I'll sack ye up like a gargoyle ready for grillin'."

"No need for hostility." Hyde ignored the threat. "Me and her are just looking for someone."

"Ye look like yer lookin' for trouble." The captain whipped out his belt. It was in the shape of a lasso, and it was covered in tiny blades. It was definitely a weapon for cutting deep into the skin.

"I won't confirm nor deny that." Hyde chortled bitterly. "Let me speak with whoever's in charge. Hear what I have to say first and maybe you can help."

"Who... exactly are ye? What gives ye a right to stride over here and make propositions?"

"You'll find out. It's up to you whether you want to see the light of day or not afterward." Hyde retorted. "Drop the weapons. Let's talk."

"Like heck, we will!" One of the poachers spat at the ground next to Hyde's shoe. He only scrunched up his lips in disgust and stared at the man in the hat.

The man in the hat huffed before raising one arm high. "Stand down, good men. Let us hear what he has to blabber."

Harper sighed in relief when the men all took a step away from them. She couldn't believe it worked. From what she heard about Poachers, they were the most dangerous thieves in Westona. But Hyde was equally as dangerous.

Maybe they sensed that.

"Who are ye looking for?" The captain smacked his tongue.

"A man."

The poachers all sniggered in response before murmuring with each other.

"Look 'round, son. All of us are men." He cracked a smile. "Cept her." He pointed at Harper and turned to one of his men. "Get these two a drink."

"Oh. That won't be necessary—" Harper tried to refuse.

"What kinda guy? Be more... specific." He sat back down and gestured for them to do the same. "Tell me more. Is he tall? Short? Scrawny?"

Bottles of beer were shoved into both Hyde and Harper's hands.

"Try it. Great stuff. Drink really has a kick to it." The man took a bottle as well and popped it off with his teeth. Harper realized that these men had no oxygen masks on.

How strange. How were they able to breathe? Then she realized. She also didn't have hers on either. And yet, she was breathing completely fine. It felt surreal.

It was against everything the Facility had taught about Westona.

"Hooboy, that sunset earlier sure was pretty." The man downed a big gulp of his drink. "So? Are ye gonna stand there like a dormant tree?"

"I have reason to believe that you Poachers are holding a hotel employee in captivity."

The man coughed lightly, before frowning. "A hotel employee? Are ye blind? Ye see any fancy fittin' gentles 'round here?" He leaned against a log. "Ye got eyes. They be small, be ye can use them."

He turned to look at Harper and scowled at her. "Yer lady's a bit rude. I offered her a drink and she ain't even taking a sip."

"Um... well. I don't—"

"You can never do anything right," Hyde grunted and snatched her beer bottle away from her before popping off the top. When he handed it back to her, a threat in the form of a whisper entered her ears. "Drink. Or else you can kiss Yanpu goodbye, here and now."

"Hyde..." Harper pleaded with her eyes, as a warning. Rather than paying attention to her signal for help, he continued the conversation with the head poacher.

She had no choice but to do as she was told. She hesitantly raised the bottle to her lips and took a sip. The liquid was cold but spicy. She wanted to spit it out but she forced it down.

"So ye came here searching for a working man, and yer suspecting me an' my crew of poachin' him?" The man laughed. "Why would I want to abduct someone who works in the lavish? Son, I ain't dumb. If I be going to a hotel, I be robbing them of golden towels and shite."

Harper took another tip while Hyde spoke.

"Don't act surprised." Hyde sneered. "Disturbing discussions of Poachers are spreading like wildfire. Last I heard, you guys have been snatching up male prostitutes for your daughters to marry."

Harper was starting to think that she needed this drink. That was a lot of information she didn't need to know. She downed another large gulp of the liquid. Her tongue was burning but she stifled a cough.

"Shoot. Ye really got it all wrong." The man rolled his eyes. "We're busy men. Ye see them trucks behind our tents?" He leaned aside so Hyde and Harper could get a clear view of the pickup trucks. "Ain't none of us settling down til we get our ultimate treasure. Once we get richer than them greedy capitalistic city dwellers up North, then we will be finding beauties to marry. Ain't none of us got children."

"The band on your wrist states otherwise." Hyde studied the accessory closely. It was Westona's custom for a man to wear a wedding band on his left wrist to symbolize eternal love.

"This old thing?" The man chuckled. "I stole this. It's made of Puron, ye see." He rolled up his shirt sleeve and showed it off. A red shine glossed over the band, confirming its content.

"Puron?" Harper hummed in amazement. "Who did you get this band from?"

Puron wasn't just a simple mineral to acquire. It was extremely dangerous. Westona was full of it, which is why the Capital made rules to tread lightly on their country's soil.

A wrong touch of organic Puron could be fatal. Who in the world dug it up and made a band out of it?

The crystals were used as batteries, but those were a result of what happens after the dangerous process of crystallization.

The mineral being turned into liquid was also very dangerous. Liquid Puron could form into poisonous gas. And for a wedding band to be made of organic Puron, it had to have been used as a liquid and formed.

"Yer eyes are bad and her ears ain't retaining." The man huffed. "I stole it."

"Okay, I heard you the first time. But from who?"

"I dunno. I don't keep a list of all the yappers I stole from."

"Bull!" Harper tried to stand, but her head felt light. She plopped right back down next to Hyde. The drink was really starting to kick in. She felt herself losing her senses in a matter of seconds.

This is why she refused to drink. The effects of alcohol made her dizzy, and brought her in a state of crazy she didn't like to share.

"I told ye. The drink gives ye a nice kick." The man cackled at Harper's sloppy movements. He stood up and brushed his pants off. "Sorry, son. We poachers ain't of any help."

Hyde pushed himself off the ground too and crossed his arms. "Oh, not to worry. You were of much help." A wicked grin spread across his face. "Very much."

"The look in yer eyes..." The man clenched his jaw. "I don't like it."

"You wouldn't be the first." Hyde shrugged.

"Something's awfully familiar about you." He eyed Hyde from top to bottom. "I guess it's nothing. Ye should be on yer way. Yer lady friend is out of it."

Harper grabbed onto Hyde's arm and pulled herself up. "I'm..." She hiccuped. "I'm okay."

Harper slugged forward. She wondered why the drink had affected her so quickly. Yeah, she had been drunk once before, but she barely finished half her bottle.

"Listen you! You... bad man! You... thief! You can't lie to us, okay? You have to tell us the truth!"

She was worried about Yanpu's safety. Harper wanted nothing more than to finish the errand and get back to him to protect him. It was making her uneasy that Hyde was holding back.

"This guy... he's... he's doing horrible things to someone I care about!" Harper groaned. "So if you don't tell us the truth, I won't go easy on you! Woah!" Harper stumbled over her foot and fell against Hyde.

He shoved her away without a care, but she used him for support.

"I hope ye find who yer looking for." The man spat at the ground and wiped his lip. "It's getting late. About time for ye to retire for the night, eh? All of us, actually."

"You're right." Hyde huffed and turned on his heel. He dragged Harper away with him, but she didn't want to leave.

"No! Hyde! Hyyyyyde! You can't let them off like thaaaat." She whined. "Ugh! Let me.... Go!"

"Shut up, will you?" Hyde yelled at her in a soft tone, not wanting them to hear as they walked away. "And throw away that drink."

"What drink?" Harper hiccuped again.

Without a word, Hyde snatched the half-full bottle of beer and poured the rest of the liquid onto the dirt. "It's heavily spiked."

"Spike?" Harper fell against him again. "What's a spike?"

"Bargoyle piss... that drink was full of that wild bird's waste. Its content causes drowsiness, hallucinations, and— shite! Get up!"

Harper collapsed and began to gag. "Ewwww! I'm gonna—" She heaved at his feet and a huge pile of vomit shot out of her mouth, some of it landing on Hyde's shoe.

He swore like a sailor and stomped angrily. "You twat! These are new! Brand freaking n—"

"You're so loud..." Harper winced and pinched her ears. "I told you... I don't drink. But you forced me."

"I'm gonna kill you." Hyde snatched her onto her feet. But rather than holding herself steady, she pressed all her weight against him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Why are you so mad all the time?" Another hiccup escaped from her. "And you never keep your word. If you're gonna kill me, just do it alreadyyyy."

"I will—"

"Your eyes are kind of pretty when they glow."

Hyde blinked at her. Her compliment caught him completely off guard. He wasn't sure how to respond.

"Mmm... such a waste. Those pretty eyes are used to glare and look mad. I bet your mouth and eyebrows hurt."

"Get off of me." Hyde sneered.

"My legs feel like pudding."

"I don't care."

Hyde wriggled out of her grasp. In the process, he lost his footing. He fell onto the dirt, and soon after, Harper landed on top of him, face down. Her body slammed into his, and a small exhale left his mouth.

"Get off!" Hyde roared.

"Why did you let the Poachers gooo?" Harper slurred. She slapped her hands on his chest once and her eyes widened. He felt like a brick wall. "Are you... heartless?"

"I am. Now get up, or I'll break your arm pushing you." Hyde seethed.

Harper placed her ear against his chest, shocking Hyde again. He tried to sit up, but she forcibly managed to shove him back down. Another breath of air left him.

"I wanna hear it!"

"What—"

"Shushhhh!" Harper pressed her fingers to his lips and placed her ear on his chest again. She hummed along to his steady heartbeat. She felt like she was tricked. "You liar. You have a heart."

"I do?" Hyde rolled his eyes. "No shite."

What Harper did next was what surprised him beyond what he thought was possible. She sighed and began petting his head like he was a puppy. "You're not heartless... don't be so mad..."

Her soft strokes made him pause for a moment. He was not at all sure what to say or do next. And he would be lying if he said that it didn't feel nice.

Eventually, his entire face went red. He sat up and she allowed him to. Before she could say anything else, Hyde scooped her up and carried her back to the car.

And when they returned, Arnest was not happy to see Harper's condition.

"So, what's the plan?" Arnest spoke up.

"We wait until dawn and follow them closely. We leave when they do. I'm gonna teach that liar a lesson." Hyde responded bitterly.

"How do you know he's lyinnnng?" Harper slurred and leaned over Hyde's shoulder.

"What's up with her?" Arnest raised a brow.

"She consumed a drink spiked with bargoyle piss. She's drunk as a sailor." Hyde flicked her head back and she fell against her seat.

"Ow! You meanie! That hurt!" Harper whined.

"Lay back and rest. I want you to be functional in a few hours." Hyde commanded her.

"I don't wanna go to bed." Harper pouted like a child.

"Too bad." Hyde turned to face her. "If you aren't willing, I'll make you."

"And what are you gonna do?" Harper leaned dangerously forward, so close that their lips almost touched. She challenged him with a smirk, one that Hyde didn't have a response to.

He just glared at her, debating whether it was worth it to engage. She was out of her mind, not thinking straight because of the effects of the drink.

If she were in a more sane condition, he would've enjoyed snapping her neck. But she was too loopy for him to even get satisfaction from her suffering.

"Go to sleep, vixen." Hyde nudged her away softly. "You'll feel a lot better when you wake up."

"I will?" Harper mumbled.

"Yep."

"Okay." She hiccuped and rolled onto her side. "I'm cold."

Arnest snickered at her. He stopped when he watched Hyde take off his jacket. Effortlessly, he draped it over her and grumbled a swear under his breath.

"Wow." Arnest scoffed.

"Not a word about this." Hyde seethed. "Cut the engine to save power. You should rest too. I'll be on the lookout."

"Are... Are you sure?" Arnest observed Hyde carefully. "You should rest. You're still wounded from your last hit."

"I'll be fine. It'll heal." Hyde dismissed him. "The sooner we leave Westona, the better." He pulled his hair back and massaged his temple.

"If it weren't for that brat stealing the crystals, we would've been ahead of schedule."

"... It's not something he can control, unfortunately. Not yet, at least."

Harper's eyes grew heavier the more their conversation went on. She struggled to stay awake. It wasn't long before she finally drifted away into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, she felt a sharp pain in her head. She gritted her teeth and massaged her temples, trying to ease the throbbing. "Ugh... unnngh." She groaned.

Arnest heard the soft sound first and looked in the rearview mirror. "She's awake."

"What... happened?" Harper noticed Hyde's jacket covering her torso and looked at the two men up front strangely. "Did you hit me?"

"And if I did?" Hyde retorted lazily.

"What did I do to you?" Harper whined.

"A lot of things, but the main one that irks me is that you're still alive." He smirked and Harper looked at her lap in silence.

She tried to remember what happened, but she couldn't. Did they meet the Poachers?

A bottle of water was moved into her line of sight, and Harper raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Drink it." Hyde ordered.

"I'm trusting that it's not poisoned." Harper took the bottle and unscrewed the cap. Then she downed a large gulp.

Hyde moved his attention to the windshield. "Start the car. They're on the move."

"Where are we going?" Harper paused drinking to ask.

"After them."