quartz

I still have to... to...

*thud* *thud* *thud*!

(No, wait, that's the sound of someone knocking at the door.)

Who is it?!

Quartz! Wake up! For the love of god, get up!

Take your belongings and run!

Ivy, you and your mom stay in there for now and don't come out.

The hell are you doing, crashing my house like this?!

(Mayor got jumped by someone last night. Steamed him so bad he sent out a search, leave no stone unturned and all. Won't calm down until we find the perp.)

(And you guys are the only ones who saw him last night.)

(Just work with me, okay? My hands are tied here...)

(He got attacked? Who has the balls to...)

When I knock, I want you to open! The hell are you yapping for?!

Shit-for-brains, all of you!

Gargh!

Dad! Are you okay?!

Get back in there.

No! Why should I—

Get back!

Yeah, that's right, keep your girl in check. Don't make this any more complicated than it needs to be.

Nothing to hide, nothing to fear, okay, buddy?!

Shit pisses me off, honestly. I'd rather kill the goddamn lot of you and THEN figure out if you did it.

Ivy, listen to me. Go to your friend Quartz and stick with her.

It'll all be fine. Don't worry.

I saw Ivy's face in that instant...

I was once like her. Unwilling, furious, but forced to swallow my anger.

Feeling pale and lost and praying for a miracle, or for some kind of hero. A million parts of you screaming, every last uncountable cell in you, but never getting an answer.

I came back right after I was done with the mayor's deliveries. Didn't take a step outside after that.

All the neighbors around can testify. We were all here at home.

And it's just me, my wife, and these two girls here. How could we...

Hey! Check this out!

Guess what I found in the other room here?! This thing weighs a ton!

Drop the weapon! Now!

The hell are you?!

Easy there! Final warning!

Is that... yours, Quartz?

You...

Ivy's eyes swim like hope when all is lost.

Maybe I've gotten rusty after not using a greatsword for so long, because it feels a little stiff in my hands.

But it's at home all the same.

I ready myself to face the enemy.

Yet out of the corner of my eye, I see someone pull Ivy from my side.

(Dad?!)

(Quit pulling me! Quartz was...)

(If you want our family to stay out of trouble, then starting now, you shut your damn mouth.)

(I tell you this with every inch of solemnity: do not go near her.)

(Ugh! Dad!)

Vincent, she was lodging at our place, nothing more.

You wouldn't forget, would you? It was you who brought her to seek our help in the first place.

Uh... uh, yeah!

I was just thinking how pitiful she seemed at the time...

We only agreed on account of her seeming like just your regular lady. We didn't think anything more of it.

So whoever she really is, we don't know a damn, and we sure as hell never asked.

(Sorry, kid.)

Here I thought I'd find a part of my life I'd never had before.

Here I thought I could make up for my past regrets.

But that was just wishful thinking. It was all an illusion.

They have nothing to do with this.

I don't know them.

*thud*! *thud*! *thud*!

(That's the sound of my heart pounding.)

See that? That's what happens when you rock the boat.

If you have half a mind to keep working here, to keep making money...

...then don't ask unless you're told to ask, and don't mind unless you're told to mind.

Understand?

*thud*... *thud*... *thud*...

(That's the sound of my mother's fading pulse.)

Happy birthday, Mom!

Look!

It's that present Dad promised he'd get you. I finally bought it!

Mom...

Son of a bitch!

Now, now... that's enough.

Look, she ain't moving anymore... Heaven knows if you just killed her...

Tch... none of your goddamn business. Let's go to the mayor.

Watch her, old man. You know what happens if you let her run.

Yeah...

Miss? Miss?

Ugh...

Phew... Had me sweating there. Thought you'd done kicked the bucket for real.

You're... Quartz, right? My memory ain't what it used to be.

Yeah, it's Quartz.

I'll confess, I can get why you'd carry a weapon everywhere, seeing how dangerous it is out there alone.

But you sure walked into one hell of a mess...

*sigh* If you ask me, I know you didn't do it. If you're looking for someone who'd lay hands on that...

(...that bastard, there's plenty townsfolk who'd jump in line before an outsider like you ever got the chance.)

No matter what happens, no matter the consequences...

I can take it.

Not like I know where I should be going, anyway.

Anything? No matter the consequences? Easy for you to say, but what about your family, huh? Your parents? You think they could take it?

Look, I don't know where you're from, but worst case...

Just supposing there's, uh... a word or two I'd want to deliver your folks, I'd at least like to know who I'm looking for...

I'll be going to find them myself, soon enough.

What, you're gonna run after all? You can't cut me a break, can you?

You know how many people are out there? I don't think you <i>can</i> run.

*sigh*... Off the record, but... if you <i>did</i> manage to make off... I don't know whether I'd cry from fear or joy.

I mean, thinking about it... I know everyone's tearing into my ass these days.

But I've got a family too... and god help me, I know you didn't do it... but I'm just scared to contemplate... I'm sorry...

I bet Pickett's of the same mind... much as it's not my place to talk.

I'm sorry...