The beginning

"The miser from the city was here. He left already." Cala turned to look out the window.

Soren looked out the window and nodded. "Hmmm..." He mused. "What do you think of this Miser, Cala?"

"I had not intended on him making a scene," Kallias said in a hushed voice. He looked at the people and turned to Athen. "You're frightening the citizens of this camp. Please, apologize and explain you broke the window in a panic, not because you're a miser."
Kallias gave India a look of warning.

"The window was cracked and broke when I leaned on it," Athen grinned and told the crowd. "I'm not a Miser."
He looked at India. "That isn't a lie," he added with a raised eyebrow.

India looked at Zander, asking with her eyes if he was really going to let a Miser get away with lying to the town.

Zander looked at the doctor, a small warning in his eyes. "A Miser in this camp would be killing everyone. The citizens would be in a panic and there would be no order. The camp would fall." He looked at the Miser and frowned. "He's not hurting anyone." Yet, he thought, a slight hint of worry flashing across his eyes before he regained his firm stance.

India glared at the group. Now we're protecting and treating Misers?!
"Don't bring him back to me," India hissed. She turned back to the hospital, pushing Kallias out of the way. "I won't treat him. Or anyone like him."

Athen turned and snarled at Kallias. "I want to see Five," he said, eyeing the doctor. "I have a bone to pick with him."

Kallias looked to Zander, offering a look of sympathy as he ushered Athen from the crowd. "Do you understand what situation we're in?" Kallias looked at the scared children. "Someone clearly brought you back for a reason. It's important to stay low until their intentions are known."

"I'm not hiding," Athen snapped, cracking his neck and back. "I want them to know I'm looking."
Athen looked at his hands, opening and closing them to loosen the joints. "I also want this restraint lifted from me. I've been patient, but I'm losing my patience."

Kallias looked over his shoulder at the hospital and Zander. "That isn't possible right now. Please, work with me until we are outside the city. I know you have no reason to trust me, but I have everyone's best interest at heart."

"My best interest included?" Athen scoffed. "I don't think so. You want me to worry about your pathetic subhuman species that's destroyed their home and just attempted to hit me with a bat."
Athen's frown increased. "I refuse."

"If the person who brought you here was anticipating the return of Krios..." Kallias' thoughts drifted to the past. "You have to understand the risk we'll be taking if we aren't careful."

"That's enough Kallias," Athen loudly demanded. "I've already made my decision. Have the spell lifted or I'll do it and you're spell caster will be a casualty."
Athen stopped and turned to his left facing an alley between two collapsing buildings. "I'm going to find Five and settle this," Athen announced, not waiting for Kallias to acknowledge him. "I'll find you later."
Athen started sprinting towards the and of the alley, aiming for the tallest building for a vantage point.

Kallias reached for Athen's arm, tripping as the Miser slipped from his grasp. "Athen, it's too much of a risk!" Kallias began to follow him, reaching the end of the alley feet behind Athen. He stopped, looking at the Miser as he disappeared from sight.

Cala sat on the edge of the window. "He said that we shared the same soul and that I would become more like him," she replied quietly. "I didn't see his as a threat..."

William laid in the dirt under the old truck and started to fall asleep, watching the soldiers pass. His stomach grumbled and his mouth was parched. He watched them, weakly looking back and forth at the boots as they passed. I wish there were more stray animals in this camp...

Seth stopped when he smelled a familiar. He hopped on top of a wall and looked around the wreckage for the other Miser when he noticed a pair of feet under a truck. He snuck down the back wall and slid silently behind the truck, looking under.
"Hey," he whispered. "What are you doing out here?"

William's body went tense and he flipped onto his back. He saw Seth and grew tenser. "Y-your eyes! They're two different colors... What are you?"

Seth knelt down and shushed William. "It's nothing. I found a contact and like freaking the humans out. You didn't answer my question anyway."

"I'm hiding," Will said, looking ashamed. "I don't want the humans to find me, but I don't know where else to go." He drew a circle in the dirt with his finger.

"Most of the Misers that don't want to associate with the devil Misers are in the city. Safe camp is a misleading title for Misers. You're going to get executed here." Seth looked around the camp and pointed to a low wall. "You can escape that way."

Will looked at the wall nervously. "I can't... really fight. I woke up six months ago. I was asleep since the war started. I don't even know what happened to me... I wasn't born like this..." Will hugged his knees and looked at his feet. "I do belong here, but they don't accept me."

"Hehe, nah kid. Once you marked, you never belong with the humans again. You're going to have to learn to defend yourself." He held out his hand. "Come with me. We'll find Five and see what he can do, but you can't stay under here."

William hesitantly took his hand and crawled out. "My name's William," he said, standing.