Assemble

"Husband and wife found murdered in their home. The Tyranno Boys are taking credit for this murder claiming they refuse to be overshadowed by drug peddlers like the Black Mask."

The scene transitions to a video showing Raptor covered mostly by shadows as per usual.

Raptor: "Manderlay belongs to the Tyranno Boys. My army and I will find anyone involved with the Black Mask and kill them. Along with Commissioner Morrison's, I will carry their leaders head through the streets. We will crush anyone who thinks they can mess with us."

The scene returns to the studio.

"In related news, two people have been found dead behind the Club Inferno, decomposition having started on multiple parts of their bodies. The victims were believed to be long term users of the red variant of Dominos that have become a popular drug on the club scene."

===================================

It's the middle of the afternoon, mid-Spring. The weather's plenty nice before summer sets in with temperatures in the seventies and eighties and little rain.

School has let out for the day and for some the work day is either nearing its end of about to begin, but thank God it's Friday.

*Eve waits for Jin outside the front gate of the highschool. She's staring off into space, on really aware of what's going on around her*
---
*Cameron turns off the tv and heads outside*

*Thiera, Aroma, & Ven all decide to head to the pet store to see if Taiyo is working.*

Grimm was outside again, tending to his garden.

Dalia was heading home on a bus.

Jin crept up behind Eve and put her hands over her eyes, "Guess who?"

Taiyo is in fact working. She's operating the front while Kari is somewhere at the back of the store.

Taiyo: "Hi, everyone."

The parrot squaks. It is still alive.

===================================

Azuma enters the bookshop through the back door. The window showing inside the boss's office is covered in cardboard.

Last year, the boss was attacked by someone with no face and was thrown through the window. Since then the shop hasn't been closing early and no strange vehicles come around afterwards.

A feeling of guilt comes over Azuma as he had ratted the man out to Inquiry, but at the same time glad he did something to get the mob out of their business.

He enters the shop area where Hitomi is stocking shelves, a small smile appears on her face when she sees Azuma.

Hitomi: "Hello."

Azuma: "Howdy."

===================================

Mimiru passes an old apartment building on her way home. The police were outside in the morning clearing things out and were still at it several hours later. It was the second meth lab the police had been informed of this week.

*Thiera waves, Ven is looking around.*

T"Hey."

V"So, are you going to be working late today?"

*Aroma walks up to scratch the parrot under the beak.*

A"Did Polly learn polite conversation?"

*Eve whirls around to face Jin*

<Oh, hey Jin.>

"That's no fun, you were supposed to guess," Jin said, looking mock offended.

Dalia got off of the bus at her stop and started the walk home from there.

Parrot: "Bitch!"

Taiyo: "I'm not sure. I'm still pretty new, so probably not."

===================================

I don't know what end of town she lives in, so she might see the usual sights. Or unusual. I don't know.

===================================

Azuma looks about, checking to make sure no one's around.

Azuma: "Any weirdos come around lately?"

Hitomi: "No one, except you."

Azuma grinned, holding in a laugh.

Azuma: "Anyone besides the usual one?"

Hitomi: "No."

V"Shouldn't they have told you your schedule by now?"

*Aroma frowns, & turns back to Taiyo.*

A"Can he say anything that's not mean?"

*Eve shrugs*

<Sorry, I'm a little stressed at the moment. Wanna meet Cameron at the mall today?>

"Sure thing," Jin nodded, her fake expression of offence easily lifted away and was replaced by a wide grin. "Let's go. And you don't have to be stressed when I'm around~!"

Dalia arrived home, checked the mail, and went inside.

Grimm decided it was time to take a break from the garden and went inside. He put on the radio while making some tea.

Taiyo: "I try to avoid talking to him. And going near him. Kari and I rock, paper, scissors over who has to clean out the cage."

She faces Ven.

Taiyo: "I only started a little while ago and still being in school, I don't usually work long. I don't actually have a set time for when I leave. It depends on what there is to do and if it was busy or not. I won't be here 'til closing."

===================================

The radio transmits static. On the counter is an envelope with the words Preacher Man written in black ink.

Grimm noticed the envelope and looked around the room, suddenly tense. As he presumably saw nobody around, he turned back to the envelope and opened it.

V"Then I guess we'll just hang around here for a little while. Sound good with everyone?"

*Aroma & Thiera nod.*

<I suppose so.>

*Eve texts Cameron letting him know the plan before getting in the car of her waiting mother*

Dr. Tantus:<Hello girls, how were your days?>
---
*Cameron gets the text and starts off towards the mall*

Taiyo: "Um...okay."

Kari comes down an aisle, a wad of bloody kleenix over her finger.

Kari: "Hello, everyone. Taiyo, can you get me a band-aid."

Taiyo: "Right."

She ducks down behind the counter, rummaging about.

===================================

The reverse side of the envelope featured a wax seal of a mask. The paper feels odd. Kind of oily.

Q: Where will you turn when your God has abandoned you?
Where will you go when he leaves you to die?

A: Around.

A closet door behind him opens.

"Good!" Jin said. "And yours?"

Grimm turned to look at the closet, tensing up and ready to move. He kept the envelope in his hand but raised the other hand in preparation to swing.

T"Ouch, what happened?"

<Fine.>

*Dr. Tantus drives them to the mall*
---
*Cameron continues on his way*

Kari: "Nothing serious, just a gerbil bite."

Taiyo pops up with band-aids and polysporne and helps Kari bandage herself up. There are a few other scratch and bite marks on her hand.

===================================

A person in a weirdo looking full body suit steps out of the closet, swinging a hatchet at him.

Grimm leaped to one side, releasing a small burst of fire at the person from his raised hand as he moved, "Who are you?!"

Whenever they arrived, Jin hopped out of the car and gave Eve's mother a chirpy 'thank you'.

*Eve gets out as well*

<Yeah, thanks Mom.>

Dr. Tantus:<No problem. Call me and one of us will come pick you up.>

*She drives off*

Eve:<Cameron will meet us in the footcourt.>
---
*Cameron increases his pace*

T"Umm...maybe you could wear gloves?"

V"Or stop picking up the strays I'm supposed to rescue."

Kari blinks in confusion, not having a clue as to what Ven is talking about.

Kari: "We get our gerbils and other animals from breeders?"

===================================

The flames scorch the assailants suit, but they don't falter. It should be known that the suit is made to resist flames and extreme heat. They take another swing with the hatchet.