<div style="text-align: justify"><i>"But where do I even start?"<br/>
<br/>
Mallory wrapped her hands around a little mug, filled to the brim with steaming hot tea. Seemed like no one made tea the way Victor Lavonne did - infusing it for ages, and then dropping a whole mountain of sugar in, as if trying to cover for the previous mistake. Still, it wasn't bad. She took a sip, looking up from the mug, and onto the man himself: towering over her, with a similar dish in one of his hands. He shrugged.<br/>
<br/>
"Alleys. Roofs. Sewers." He responded, a cruel smirk dancing in the corner of his mouth. "Where do you think you find rats? Won't see any up there-" Victor pointed towards the nasty ceiling of his quarters. "-but there'll be plenty in the basement. Don't overthink it. Rats are always in plain sight." A hoarse chuckle left his throat. "Just follow the trail of shit they leave."</i><br/>
<br/>
***<br/>
<br/>
A month ago, Mallory wouldn't even know where to start. Of course she was acquainted with Dome and its darker corners, especially having originated from them herself, but the maze that was her city left her dumbfounded and stumped more often than not, no matter how well she thought she knew it. And it seemed like the rebels acquired and possessed some sort of forbidden knowledge. Moving swiftly, escaping, hiding, always <i>managing</i>, it was as if the city itself was helping them to realize their plans and get away despite militia's tries to reach a rather different result.<br/>
<br/>
She would hardly ever let herself be lost in the alleyways. It was simply too dangerous, not being able to tell where she was at all times and, of course, with the rebel threat at her back. Not wanting to - and not being allowed to, really - take off her militia uniform for most of the day, Mallory had no choice but to keep out. But now, having left her work clothes at the base, the young officer looked as ordinary as possible. The only exception were her eyes, dark and somewhat emotionless.<br/>
<br/>
It was terrifying, no matter how she looked at it and which side she was on. The way militia thought rebels had this supernatural powers when it came to escaping, and the way Lavonne knew there was no magic in this whatsoever. The way he knew so much about his enemies, their rendez-vous points and habits. Mallory shuddered. Lavonne played with his food like a child that had yet to be taught manners. Then again, it was an all-out war, even if kept within the spires of Dome.<br/>
<br/>
The officer stopped in front of a rather rundown pub, eyeing it for a little while. The CLOSED sign in front meant nothing to her; and rightly so, considering the door swung open when she put her hand on the knob.<br/>
<br/>
There were people inside, and many of them, seeing as the pub wasn't even that massive. A certain smell lingered in the air, making Mallory's throat ache a little and her nose wrinkle at it. Slowly, she moved her gaze from one end of the room to the other, noticing a few <i>familiar </i>faces. The atmosphere has changed... But for some reason, Mallory felt little fear.<br/>
<br/>
It began to settle and dawn on some of the rebels that she was someone they did not know at all. The officer noticed a little shift in their positions, realizing they were, quite possibly, grabbing onto their various weapons. <i>What can they do that Lavonne couldn't?</i>, came the bitter thought. Somehow the knowledge of Victor's abilities brought her twisted relief.<br/>
<br/>
"Who is that?"<br/>
"Is she new? I don't know her." whispered someone in the back, nervousness in the female's voice. A group of youngsters - how old were they? - looked at each other anxiously. Perhaps they never thought before, realizing now that joining the rebels had little to do with drinking all the time and singing happy songs.<br/>
<br/>
Mallory closed the door behind her. She had to act fast, and use that shock before it was all gone. Not picking up her pace, however, careful not to startle anyone. The woman walked towards the bar, catching Connor's face and going as far as to giving him a little nod. If there was anyone about to attack her, it was him, surely - her nose still ached sometimes and she could only hope his knee did, too.<br/>
<br/>
She stood next to the bar and put a hand in her pocket, fishing out a silver coin. It was all done slowly, giving the situation an almost surrealistic vibe. She's walked right into the lair of rats - but she was a snake herself. With an almost dramatic flair, Mallory put the coin on the bar and pushed it towards the man behind with one finger.<br/>
<br/>
"Water."<br/>
<br/>
Pause. The barman did not flinch. Mallory sighed and turned around to face the man who broke her nose once more and opened her mouth to say something, but it was at that moment that someone kicked her in the side, and hard. Feeling the air leave her lungs, Mallory stumbled to the ground, but regained her balance quickly and stood up. There was commotion everywhere now.<br/>
<br/>
"Get her!" Connor screamed and someone grabbed her arms, tugging them behind her in a painful manner. Yet she did nothing to fight back, accepting the rough treatment, only hissing loudly and jerking when they grabbed her bandaged hand.<br/>
<br/>
"Lavonne will come", Mallory eked out, but her tone was far from one she would use for a threat. "Don't be mistaken!" Her eyes never left Connor. "You want him dead, don't you?" She paused, cleared her throat and began to speak again. She had to raise her voice as more and more people began to whisper and speak nervously to each other. "You're not alone in this at all, <i>Connor</i>."<br/>
<br/>​</div>