Crimson Soudoyer

[Gifted]

As though he'd be able to do anything if she didn't? "No." Melody said firmly.

[Raven]

"Okay," Ryan said. "Stay safe, then."

[Gifted]

She nodded. "I'll do what I can."

[Raven]

Ryan sighed and nodded, heading off to get himself something to eat.

[Gifted]

Ryan didn't hear anything about Melody again until late the next evening. He was at Vincents bar with Kurtis and Rakel - who was looking quit a bit better than she had the last couple of days - when he saw Vincent suddenly frowning and looking upset. In the very short time they'd been in this bar it had grown obvious Vincent was the sort who was able to keep track of every conversation inside it with ease.

[Raven]

"Scuse me," Ryan said after a moment, standing up and crossing to the bar.

[Gifted]

Closer to the front of the bar, Ryan began to hear snippets of the conversation between several minor Advocates that Vincent was apparently eavesdropping on.
"-so one survivor was a traitor, and the other was a fucking violent psycho. We sure as hell got lucky, huh?"
"Yeah, no kidding. You come an inch from death and decide the best use of your time is to pull that bullshit? Half a mind to finish the job at that point."
"Yeah, you can best bet I'm gonna do it if she touches my little brother again."

[Raven]

"What's going on?" Ryan asked, approaching the group.

[Gifted]

He made the group of minor Advocates drinking around a table jump about a foot out of their chairs. "Um, shit sorry!" One said in shock.
"Er, we were just talking about what happened to Ethan's brother." One of the others looked to his friend.
"Way to throw me under the bus, dude!" Ethan laughed. "That chick Melody attacked my eight year old brother today, I was telling the others what happened. He came running into our house cryin' about it. He said he wasn't the only one, neither."

[Raven]

"Is he okay?" Ryan asked

[Gifted]

"Dunno, do I? Can't exactly take him to a hospital. He was bruised and bloody and cryin' about being attacked by a Marowak..."

[Raven]

"Can you take me to him?" Ryan asked. "I want to make sure he's alright if someone in the gang hurt him."

[Gifted]

"Doubt it. My mum's fussing over him somethin' fierce. Eventually she even kicked me out." He said. "I was stickin' with him until then."
"Yeah, weren't you sayin' he wasn't the only one earlier, too?" One of his friends put in.
"That's what he told me." Ethan nodded. "Said she's been messing with kids trying to cross Heffly all day. Said Mack's sister Rose got just as messed up. Yo, Mack!" He shouted across the bar. "What happened to your sister?"
"She won't fucking tell me!" A boy yelled back.

[Raven]

"Heffley?" Ryan asked.

[Gifted]

"Yeah, on Heffly Road." That was relatively close to where she'd slept last night.