[font="Garamond"]As the little group watched on in silence for the moment, the vehicles of HOPE pulled in and began to sterilize the area, removing the evidence of the charred body and wiping down the signs of a battle, retrieving every orbo bullet that was shot.
"I'm gonna be in so much trouble..." Elena let a big breath of air out and clasped her hands behind her head, twisting her mouth into a grimace.
"No you won't, it's not your fault. We were unprepared for a witch that strong and we did what we had to do to stay safe. Haruto will understand." Sekeiri punched her teammate in the shoulder very lightly, trying to comfort her.
"This is our only lead on Zaizen! I effed up. Badly." nobody said anything for a moment until Felix broke the silence.
"You're right. You did."
"Felix," Sekeiri groaned "you are so bad at this comforting business."
"So we move on and find a new lead. We did it before and we'll do it again. No more, no less."
"You're right..." Elena conceded. "Better get back to Haruto and report the situation." Elena pouted again but with a little less enthusiasm this time and they piled back into the van and headed back on the road.
*****
"So our only lead was burnt to a crisp, is what you are saying."
"Harutoooooo," came Elena's whine in reply, drifting out from his office and into the main area where the others sat at their desks, Sandy sitting on the couch with a juice box.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It was a loaded hunt, I realize that. It's not your fault or anyone else's that it turned out this way. We'll recover eventually." Elena glared in response.
"Maybe sooner rather than later..." Michael's voice floated into Haruto's office as he walked towards the door. Everyone perked up noticeably as he spoke.
"You found something?" Elena stood up and Haruto leaned forward in his desk.
"Maybe. It could be nothing. But there was a cellphone found in a car a block away that we think was used by Jakobssen, and we can trace it's last few calls to a veritable hot spot of activity these last few months." The rest of the team had ended up at the doorway to Haruto's office, listening intently.
"What kind of activity, exactly?" Sekeiri replied and Michael angled so he was addressing everyone now.
"In the last few months we have seen 3 attacks and 4 awakenings in that neighbourhood. That is too many to be a coincidence."
"We're thinking what, headquarters or something?"
"Maybe. It's worth checking out -" Michael was quickly cut off by Haruto
"Checking out only. This is until further notice a reconnoissance mission. After that, you're all getting some intense training done. I'm not taking those chances again. Target practice for everyone," Haruto made very decisive eye contact with Sandy and Elena "and the two of you some serious practice with your powers." Elena rolled her eyes in response and Sandy pushed his hair back out of his eyes, keeping the relief out of his face. It was too close last time and he knew that as one of two power users they had to be far more efficient to be of any help to each other and to the rest of the team.
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