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</div><br/><br/>There was a specific plan in his mind. He knew their next few steps and how they needed to play out. He could hardly focus on anything but safely getting their belongings and getting out of Abendblume. Things were happening so rapidly around them that Ezra struggled to breathe, struggled to think. He squeezed Anise's hand as she expressed her discomfort and fear. He was scared too, but that couldn't stop them.<br/><div style="text-align: justify"><br/>
“I’m not going to use it, Ani,” Ezra whispered back to her, absently realizing that his sister drew his hand away from the gun on his thigh. Would he have used it? Certainly, if given a reason to. His eyes stayed drawn on the happenings around him. It felt as if the dams were breaking. This place was imploding and Ezra felt less than capable of doing much beyond sitting and staring in disbelief.<br/>
<br/>
Thankfully, Anise drew his attention back to her.<br/>
<br/>
“We have had to run with less, not nothing. We have nothing.” He looked at her, holding tight to the hand in his grasp. “You aren’t wearing a jacket. Your shoes? You can’t run in those.” Ezra gestured down to his own clothing and shook his head. “I can’t wear my guard uniform out there. I’ll be a target.” He stopped himself from asking if that was what she wanted. They were scared enough already.<br/>
<br/>
Ezra’s attention was still partly on his sister and soon partly on the happenings that were unfolding behind them. He recognized the man as Brian. They had interacted a few times, and he knew the man to be gentle, despite his size and stature. It made sense to Ezra that he was also included on the list. If Hale didn’t know the man well enough, he would consider him to be a threat. Ezra couldn’t remember the exact details on the man’s family relationships, but apparently he was unmarried. Brian fought Hale alone, shouting at the man without a significant other or sibling by his side to calm him.<br/>
<br/>
It all happened in an instant. The situation erupted into chaos. Ezra’s hand returned to his gun as shots rang out. Brian fell to the ground in a heap, heavy and unmoving as if the position was natural for him.<br/>
<br/>
The sound of Anise’s tipped teacup sounded like a bomb exploding to his ears. He watched her rise to her feet, standing small beside him. She had made herself an easy target. One stray bullet could take her out. There were few individuals remaining in the lobby. Aside from the gathering that stood around Brian’s prostrate body, he and Anise were really the only ones left.<br/>
<br/>
Ezra’s mind was reeling as they were addressed by Rebel. He blinked and nodded to the man, climbing to his feet beside his sister. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked with her though the door before it was sealed shut behind them. Ezra tightened his grip as they were met with various people running this way and that. The last thing he needed was for Anise to get swept up in the action and pulled away from him. He doubted anyone would do it intentionally. All they knew was the intense urge to get out before they too ended up face down on the ground with a bullet through their back.<br/>
<br/>
"I'm sorry." He spoke quietly to Anise once they were outside, walking alongside her across the grass. Ezra wrapped his arm around Anise's shoulders and pulled her near, holding her tightly while his muscles quivered from anger and upset. "I'm so sorry, Ani. I didn't expect this to happen." Why hadn't he seen this coming? How had Hale so effectively pulled the wool over his eyes? "It won't happen again. I won't let it happen again." Ezra knew they probably wouldn't find another Abendblume, but he still vowed not to let his guard down. He was to blame and he would rather be shot in the center of his forehead than disappoint Anise again.​</div>