I spun around to face whoever it might be.

It was one of the staff from this morning. Only a second or so later another one would join him from the hallway.

"...What?" I said, their slowly advancing toward me.

"We're not stupid, Reverend," the leading one said. "Why else would you go out to the medical shed unless you got something to hide? If it were anything else you could just as easily say something out here."

"...I wasn't feeling well and needed consultation for medication," I said, hoping to throw them off. "I just wanted privacy."

"You and I both know that's a crock of shit, little man," he said, stepping closer. "Well enough to work hours like yours, but suddenly so unwell you need a clinic visit?"

"...What do you even know about me?" I asked angrily.

"More than you think!" he replied. "Word travels fast in little towns like these, you know."

"Excuse me?" I exclaimed, unsure what that could mean.

"Your name, for starters," he said, that third member joining the two from the hallway. "Where you came from, where you went. Maybe even a little bit about how you ended up here."

I choked.

"And, of course--"

He rushed his steps forward, stopping just in front of me with his face in mine and his arms trapping me at my sides.

"--Some more...intimate details here and there," he sneered. "That nasty bare torso of yours, and...maybe how you're not a man at all!"

My eyes widened and it felt like they'd fall out of my head. My whole personal history was...gossip fodder for these people?

Why?

I'd always tried to keep to myself, keep those things private as much as I possibly could. The one corrupted staffmember from a few years ago...I remember his saying he got in contact with my father to learn more about me. Somehow I doubted that these three had done the same as I didn't recall their working here when my father was caught, but instead they might have picked it up from that staffmember. Maybe, too, they learned it from anyone else he told. There was no telling how far this fire had spread, only that I was seeing smoke.

"What...is the point of all of this?" I managed to speak. "I haven't done anything but my damn job just like all of you are supposed to do! Why am I being targeted?"

"I'm sure that lunatic a few years ago was kind enough to tell you," he leered. "A tiny degenerate half-a-man like you somehow made bigger waves than anyone could've expected."

I had no idea what this was about and could only cock my ears in question.

"You and your disgusting family," he recalled, suddenly very monotone. "This organization was meant to aid pure types, and only pure types. There are countless, and I do mean countless members and patrons who have been hurt -- some to an extreme -- by the very ilk you keep. But here you are, prancing around with a handful of biological weapons like it's nothing. It's a bitter reminder of exactly what they've faced."

"But my children didn't do any of those things," I retorted. "They're children. They have spent almost their entire lives in this home. They're sweet, loving, and responsible."

"So responsible they'd steal?" he mocked. "Ah, yes, what a fantastic mother you are."

I met the end of my fuse.

"So responsible he'd take back what YOU stole from US," I barked, "and raised well enough to know not to god damn DECK you over your false allegations."

"Oh?" he laughed. "And I'm sure that's what he told you. Are you so sure that's the truth?"

I paused, my stare unwavering.

"Without a shadow of a doubt," I said.

In a flash his face went from a mocking sneer to pure rage and his right hand came around my throat, pushing me against the lobby window. I coughed and seethed, trying to breathe through his grip as I dug my claws into his wrist in any attempt to free myself, but it was as though he couldn't even feel it. The other two started closing in, one at each of my sides.

I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.

I felt hands at my sides, moving up and down my legs. The feeling had my toenails digging into the wood floor. It stopped around my hips, then moved around to my rear on my right side. I flailed from the odd, unwelcome touch but the grip around my throat wouldn't relent. On my left side, however, I felt a hand dig into my pocket.

"Ah, found it," they said, pulling out Ulimi's knife.

"We won't make the same mistake he did," the leader smiled.

My heart jumped up into my throat and my brain was nothing but white noise. The moment those words were spoken I knew where this was heading, and both unarmed and outnumbered there was no fighting back.

"And what seems to be the problem, boys?" bellowed a low, familiar voice.

They didn't bother waiting for an answer, a hard beat of footsteps echoing across the lobby floor. The man at my left fidgeted with the knife and finally drew the blade, standing ready with his back hunched to drive it home. The one to my right, however, could only turn to face them with his back against the same window as they drew closer.

No words were exchanged as a hand lunged forward to grab the armed man around the wrists, squeezing until his hand freed the knife. It fell upon the floor with a loud thud and a large foot stepped forward to claim it.

"Son, I worked in several clinics and specialized in the corrupted," they said, unamused. "You ain't a threat, you're just an annoyance."

With that said Daniel pulled him inward and wrapped a big arm around his neck. With one side free I could finally see what was going on: Daniel had returned from the kitchen and, from the looks of it, was incredibly disappointed with the goings-on.

"You too, you little shit," he growled as he grabbed the one to my right around the collar.

He walked with both men, one in each hand, over to the front door. Without skipping a beat he hiked up his right leg and grasped the handle with his foot, pulling open the heavy door. Once it was open he situated the first man in front of him before quite literally kicking him in the torso out onto the cobblestone path. With the second one he pushed him backward out through the doorway, the smaller man stumbling and landing on his back upon the hard cement-slab porch. Closing the door, Daniel turned to face the final contender.

"If you know what's good for ya you'll let him go," he said, slowly advancing toward us, "lest I do to ya what I did to the last little bastard who tried to hurt him."

"Yeah, right, fatass," the staffmember spat, his grip tightening around my neck.

I coughed and wheezed, finally bringing up my foot to dig my claws into his abdomen. It caught him offguard, Daniel taking the opportunity to do to him what he was doing to me. That big hand coiled around the man's throat and Daniel lowered his head.

"I said 'let him go'," he repeated. "I did not stutter."

I'm not sure what convinced him, but he finally let me go. I hacked and coughed, finally able to properly breathe again as Daniel escorted the staffmember through the front door by his neck. Similar to the second one he was shoved through the doorway and he landed back-first against the porch with a fleshy squelch.

"I see any of ya around here I'll be sure to break your fuckin' legs so you can't make that mistake again," he hollered to the three still crumpled in the front yard.

"We...We work here," sputtered one of them.

"Not anymore, you don't," Daniel returned. "Get the hell off our property."

"Y-You don't have that authority--"

"This is our home. I damn well do have that authority, now get lost."

He closed and locked the door after that, drawing the curtains as he walked toward me. I couldn't help but remain in a cower as he got closer after what all took place, and I couldn't tell if I was surprised by the events or not. The same arms that had warded off those staff came for me, but wrapped around my person in a much-needed hug.

"I'm real sorry for all of that," he said, his snout pressed softly against my head. "I don't like making a scene and potentially frightening you, but there wasn't much for alternatives."

I leaned my head against his collarbone, just trying to slow my mind. Once the three of them were gone my thoughts all rushed to make up for lost time and it was rather overwhelming.

"Think it might be a good idea we not be apart more often than necessary, or that you at least have some kind of escort when I can't be present," he sighed. "Oddly they seem loathe to do anything when the kids are around, which might help, but given what you told me about this morning they seem willin' to try to start shit when one of them is alone. It ain't just you, 'least not anymore."

I didn't know what to say.

"During the day I'll keep you company while ya work and take you upstairs to the bathroom when you need it," he offered, "though I'm tryin' to figure out how to go about, say, makin' lunch or dinner, or when I need to do something in the infirmary. While Riv might not mind I know ya don't want the kids getting involved in this, so maybe Tamani and Kuri could help with that. The kids are usually all downstairs during the day anyway."

"...I'm really scared, Daniel," I whispered from below him.

"I know," he replied, hugging me a little tighter. "I am, too."

"There's...more to it," I reupped.

"What do you mean?"

"I think the staff are...saying things, at least to Riv," I said, recalling our meeting in my bedroom office. "I'm not sure if they're saying it directly, or just loud enough in passing that he can hear it, but..."

"Yes?"

"Th-...Th-They've accused me of molesting him," I stuttered, burying my face deeper into his collarbone. "I don't know if they know anything about what I did nine years ago, but Riv asked me recently if that's what I'd done to him. I'd never do something like that, especially to my own children, and that he had to ask...I-I can't help but think this has gone on longer behind my back than I'm privy to and this was simply the rock that broke the ice."

I stayed silent for a moment.

"I'm gonna make a trip into town tonight," he said, a strange degree of conviction in his tone. "Let's get you upstairs to bed."

I was given no opening for objection and I don't think it would have mattered anyway. Instead one of those big arms wrapped around my back and side, keeping me close to his left side as we departed the lobby and traversed the hall. We slowly made our way up the stairs and stopped at the top, his quickly looking to his left past me and down to the other end of the hall. There a trio of staff loomed, their stares meeting Daniel's glare. There seemed to be a mutual understanding between both of our parties:

This was war.

He took me to the bathroom so I could carry out my nightly routine, standing guard just outside in the hallway. Once I was finished he again took me into his side and stopped just in front of a certain bedroom door, giving it a light knock.

Kuri opened the door, looking down at both of us. His head tilted to one side, immediately knowing something was up.

"You two," Daniel said. "There's something I'd like ya to do if you're willin'."

"Sure?" Kuri answered.

"There are times I need to be away from the lobby, such as taking care of dinner or dealing with the infirmary," he opened. "During those times, would either of ya mind keeping Reverend company? Like, escorting him to the bathroom when needed, that kind of thing?"

"Uh, no, that's fine," he said. "Mind if I ask what happened?"

"Staff again," Daniel responded. "They're gettin' gutsy. I don't want him gettin' hurt and they're most definitely targeting him. It ain't just the one anymore, it's all of them. Just tossed out three this evening."

"Yikes," the ramiotran remarked, scratching his long neck. "Alright, I understand."

"Of course, if possible, could ya both sort something out so that the kids are still bein' watched?" he asked further. "Not sure how often that'll be needed but they tend to spend most of their day downstairs, either in the lobby or in a common area."

"I'm sure we can figure something out, don't worry," Kuri reassured, Tamani giving a thumbs-up from his bed.

"If possible, would ya both be willing to start that tonight?" said Daniel, reaching his final question. "I got some business to tend to in town so I'll be gone a little bit."

"Sure, Daniel, that won't be a problem," Kuri assured, patting my head. "Your room is past ours anyway so we'd see them if they tried to come by. We'll make sure that doesn't happen."

Kuri bent down a little bit to better face me.

"Not sure what all took place, but I do hope you feel better," he said. "If it means anything, those staff leave us well enough alone so I don't think they'll try to push us if we step in."

"...Thank you," was all I could find to say, my eyes falling back down to the floor.

With those questions answered and everyone coming to the same terms we left them to go about their night, the door closing all but the latch. Daniel took me around the back and side to bring me to our room, closing the door behind us and turning away to give me some privacy to get changed. I tossed my clothes in the hamper and put on my nightwear, removing the concealers and storing them back in their container. A quick glance in the mirror reminded me of my condition-- my irises a deep, dull red and my sclerae a noticeable grey. I could do little more than sigh and hang my head, my ears pinned back.

It always seemed that progress was never permanent. It was so easy to dial back, to erase, and potentially put myself and everyone around me in danger just for associating with me.

Daniel turned back around and walked toward me, opening his arm to invite me in for another hug. Even though I wanted to take it I couldn't get my body to move.

"...I'm sorry," I quietly said.

"...For?"

"Just...this," I said. "...All of this. The situation, the corruption, everything. This isn't fair to you. This isn't fair to any of you."

Rather than wait for me to come closer he did so on his own, taking me in for another hug.

"As I said," he started, "I'm not going anywhere. It's a bad situation and corruption is a horrible condition, but I'll see to the end of it with you. That's my promise."

I sniffled.

"Always remember, Sam: You're by no means a disappointment," he reassured, nuzzling my head. "Just about anyone else caught in this kind of snare would be facing the same problems. It's difficult -- really difficult -- but you've proven you have the resolve to work through it by any means necessary and do anything you can to give your family the kind of life they deserve. Not everyone would, especially with all of this going on."

I felt a little kiss on my head and he stepped back just a bit to fully face me, his bright eyes keeping with my sickly ones.

"You're stronger than you know."

I broke the stare to look aside and he took me to the bed, opening the covers to invite me to lie down. With a sigh I did so, not used to sleeping alone. He covered me up and even tucked me in, stroking my cheek before turning off the overhead light.

"I'll try not to be gone too long," he said. "I love you."

"...I love you too," I squeaked, burying my snout in the comforter.

He gave me a big warm smile before turning to leave, gently closing the door behind him.

***