[Present]
"Shit shit shit."
Robin's boots slapped against the wet stone of the alley, breath sharp in their lungs, lungs that already burned from running too damn long. The orange streetlights of Seville flickered above like judging eyes. Somewhere behind - sirens, shouting, the buzz of a drone. Footsteps.
"Don't make this difficult."
The voice wasn't behind Robin. It was inside. Cool. Calm. Not Robin's.
"Let me help you. Just stop running."
"Get out of my head!" Robin spat, twisting around a corner and hurling a fistful of fire behind them. The flames bloomed, caught a parked car, and sent up a whoosh of heat. Screams echoed. Civilians scattered like birds.
"You're making it worse." The blue mage's voice sighed.
"GOOD!" Robin raged.
Robin kept running. Short, spiked red hair soaked in sweat. Hoodie half-burnt on one side. Their heart hammered like a war drum, and their eyes were wide with desperation. This was bad. Very bad.
They skidded across a plaza, almost losing their balance. A billboard overhead fizzled - glitched static, then a looping ad for meditation charms and debt forgiveness. Robin didn't look up. Another alley. Another wall of heat behind them to buy two more seconds.
"You're scared. Just breathe." the officer's voice continued inside Robin's head.
They flung both hands out, blasting a dumpster forward with a concussive wave of heat and force. It crashed into a squad car just rounding the corner.
"Oops."
Blue lights spun. Euro agents shouted. A high-pitched hum in the air - guns pointing at them. Robin ducked into another side street. Smoke curled from their palms, casting flickering shadows on cracked stone.
They could feel it now. The hem of the net closing. Not just agents. Mages.
Boots on rooftops. Drones above. Shadows to the left. A shimmer to the right, a camouflage field. One flicker of hesitation and...!
They skidded to a halt.
Dead end.
"Fuck."
In seconds, Robin stood surrounded. A dozen figures stepped into the light, armored with powerful white shield runes and full riot gear. No faces. Just glowing visors. Some had wands, a focus to cast magic. One in the distance aimed a massive arcane staff like a rifle. At the front, one figure stood unarmed, hands raised in a plea.
"Please. Don't make me do this." the blue mage prayed.
Robin raised their hands, not to surrender, but to burn. A surge welled up. Panic. Instinct. Lust. Rage. Power. The air around them shimmered. Glass nearby cracked from the heat. Something deep inside was ready to explode.
"I don't need your fucking help." Robin growled through clenched teeth.
They took one step forward.
And the world snapped.