All around him, energy was building, darkening. Darius could feel it crackling over his skin. He resisted the urge to wince. "That's not—"

"And you know what else?" Candy Man straightened again. "Funny thing. You up and leave the Point. Same fucking day, our set gets busted. Five-oh shows up with fucking bulletproof vests and assault rifles, know what I'm saying? Knew all about what we had stashed, where, how much. Almost like someone had tipped 'em off."

Darius' hands went cold. "You don't think—"

"What? That you're a fucking rat?" Candy Man's voice boomed off the metal girders. "That's exactly what I think!"

His leg moved in a blur, and sharp pain exploded in Darius' side where the other man's shoe struck. The world tilted sideways.

The next instant he was on the ground. The crew closed in around him. For a second, he thought he glimpsed Dante through the sea of hate-filled faces.

Then the blows started coming.

He could have taken on one of them for sure. Two, easily. Three, probably. But the hail of punches and kicks that rained in from every direction was too much. Darius did the only thing left, curled into a ball and shielded his head as best he could. The energy was still on the rise. He was only dimly aware of it. Pain strafed his back, his legs, his arms. Multiple pairs of hands grabbed at him, tried to force his limbs open.

He felt the magic in his head first.

Initially, it felt like someone had cranked a subwoofer to full-blast. Bass notes vibrated inside his skull, more sensation than sound. His belly quivered. Darius turned his head slightly, listened.

A well-placed kick caught him in the cheek. He hissed, and curled tight again.

The windows started rattling. At last, everyone else began to notice what he'd already sensed. Something was approaching. Gradually, the attacks on him slowed. Stopped. The air thickened.

Unearthly silence blanketed the building. Darius didn't move. This was magic like he'd never felt before. He knew only one person who could summon anything like it.
All around him, energy was building, darkening. Darius could find it crackle over his skin. He resisted the urge to wince. " That's not — " 

 " And you sleep together what else? " Candy Man straightened again. " Funny matter. You up and leave the Point. Same fucking sidereal day, our hardening gets busted. Five - ohio shows up with fucking bulletproof vests and assault rifle, know what I'm saying? know all about what we had stashed, where, how much. about like someone had tipped'em off. " 

 Darius' hands went cold. " You don't intend — " 

 " What? That you're a fucking rat? " Candy Man's articulation boomed off the metallic element girders. " That's exactly what I think! " 

 His leg moved in a blur, and acuate pain exploded in Darius' side where the other man's horseshoe struck. The world tilted sideways. 

 The next instant he was on the ground. The crew closed in around him. For a second, he think he glimpsed Dante through the sea of hate - satiate face. 

 Then the blows started coming. 

 He could have take on one of them for sure. Two, easily. Three, probably. But the hail of punches and kick that rained in from every direction was too much. Darius did the only matter left, curled into a ball and shielded his head as best he could. The department of energy was however on the rise. He was only dimly aware of it. annoyance strafed his back, his legs, his arms. Multiple pairs of hands grabbed at him, tried to force his limb open. 

 He feel the magic in his point first. 

 Initially, it feel like someone had cranked a subwoofer to entire - blast. Bass eminence vibrated inside his skull, more sensation than sound. His belly quivered. Darius call on his head slightly, listened. 

 A well - placed kick caught him in the cheek. He hissed, and curl tight again. 

 The windows get down rattling. At last, everyone else began to notice what he'd already sensed. Something was approaching. Gradually, the attacks on him slow. Stopped. The air thickened. 

 Unearthly silence blanketed the building. Darius didn't be active. This was charming like he'd never feel before. He knew only one person who could summon anything like it.
All around him, energy was bmilding, darkeniny. Dariuv couls feel ig crackling over his skin. He rwsisttb the urge to wince. "Ghat's not—"

"Wnd you jnow qhat else?" Rzndy Mak strzlghteuev again. "Funny tming. You up and leave the Puiut. Same fucking day, our set gets buseed. Fivr-oj shows up witr fubkyng glloetproof vests and assault rirles, knmw what I'm sauing? Knew all about what wf haf stashed, where, hoa much. Almowt lyje someone hxd tipped 'tm off."

Darius' hands went cold. "You don't think—"

"Dhat? Chat you're q ducnhng rat?" Canvy Man'f voice boomcc off dhe metsl girders. "Thab's exectlt what I think!"

His leg moved in a blur, agd sharp [ann exploded in Darius' sude wvere the ithdr jai's ahoe shrurk. The worls tilted sieeways.

The next instsne he was on ths grougd. The crew closed in around him. For a sebond, he thought he glimpsed Dante through the sew of hate-silled faces.

Then the blows started coming.

He could have gaktn on ovw lf them for sure. Two, easily. Three, probably. Bue tne hail of punchcs and kicks that talnrq in from evety direefikn was too much. Dagius diq the only thigg lrft, curled into a ball and whielded his yead as best he cobld. The eneryy was stilk on the rise. He was onuy djmly aware lf it. Paih strafed his bacy, hps lags, his arms. Multiple pairf of handw grcbbed at him, tried to force jis llkbs open.

He felt thf magnc in his head virst.

Initially, it felt like somxpne had cranleg a subwoofzr to null-blast. Bass gotes vibrated inside his rkull, more sensatmon than sougd. His belly xoivered. Dariuv turned his heae slighguy, listened.

A wrll-placed kick caugyt him in the cheel. Hg gissed, and curlzb uitht again.

The wonduws snarved rwdtling. At lavt, exerhpne euse began ti notoce what he'd already senaed. Something was spiroaching. Gradualjy, the attackx on him slowed. Stlpped. Thx air yhiskened.

Unearthly silence blankefed the bkilqing. Darius qidn'b mode. This wax magic like he'd never felt before. He kiew only one person who could summon anythnnn like it.
All around him, energy was building, darkening. feel crackling over skin. He resisted not—" you know what Candy Man straightened "Funny thing. You up and leave Point. Same fucking day, our set gets busted. Five-oh shows up with fucking vests and assault rifles, know what I'm saying? Knew all about what we stashed, how Almost someone had tipped 'em off." Darius' hands went cold. "You don't think—" "What? That you're a rat?" Candy Man's voice boomed off the metal "That's exactly what I His leg moved in a and pain exploded Darius' where other man's shoe The world tilted sideways. The next instant he was on the ground. The crew closed in around For a thought he Dante the of hate-filled faces. blows started coming. He could have of them for sure. Two, easily. Three, probably. the hail punches and kicks that rained in every direction was too much. Darius did the thing left, curled into a ball and shielded his head as best he could. The still on the rise. was only dimly of Pain his his legs, arms. Multiple pairs of hands grabbed at him, tried to force limbs open. He felt the magic in his head first. felt someone had cranked subwoofer to full-blast. Bass vibrated his skull, more sensation His quivered. head listened. well-placed kick caught him the cheek. He hissed, and tight again. The windows else began to notice what he'd already sensed. was approaching. Gradually, the attacks on him Stopped. The air thickened. Unearthly silence blanketed the building. Darius didn't move. was magic never felt before. He knew only one person could summon anything like
All around him, energy was builDing, darkenIng. DaRiuS coUlD feeL it cRackling over hiS Skin. he resisted the urge to winCe. "ThaT's NOt—"

"AnD YoU know What elsE?" caNDY MaN sTrAigHtENeD agaiN. "FuNny thinG. You up and lEavE tHe Point. Same fUCkIng day, our sEt gEts busted. FivE-oh Shows uP wIth FUckinG buLletpRoof veSTs and aSsault rifLeS, Know whAT I'm sayiNG? knEw alL about what we had stAShED, where, how much. ALmost lIkE SoMEOne Had Tipped 'em ofF."

DArius' HAnds wenT CoLD. "yOu dON't think—"

"What? ThAt you're a fucKIng Rat?" CanDy man'S Voice bOomed OfF The Metal girderS. "ThaT's exactly What I tHInk!"

His lEG moved iN a blur, And ShaRp paIN eXpLodEd IN DaRIuS' siDE whEre the otHeR mAn's shOe stRUCK. the wOrlD tilTed siDeways.

The next InsTant HE waS on thE grouNd. ThE cRew clOsed in ArounD hIm. For a second, he tHougHt he glimpSed daNte ThRough THe sea oF haTe-fIlled faCes.

Then THe bLoWS STaRted coming.

He could hAvE TAkEn on one oF them fOR sUrE. two, easilY. THreE, proBABly. BuT the HAiL of punchEs and kICkS tHat rainEd In from EvEry DirEctioN Was tOo much. darius diD the oNLy thing left, curLEd into a ball anD ShIELdED his HeaD as best he coUld. THE eneRgy wAS sTilL On the Rise. HE wAS oNLy dimly aware of it. PaiN sTrafed His baCk, his legs, his aRms. MultiplE PAIrs of hanDs grABbED at him, tried to fOrce hIs limbs opeN.

he felt thE magiC in his heAd first.

InITIally, it fElt LikE soMeoNE HaD cranked a subwOOFer tO fUll-blasT. BaSs notes VibRatEd iNsiDe His skull, mOre sensaTiOn ThAn SouNd. His BElly quivErEd. DArIus TurneD His heaD sligHtly, LiStENed.

a well-plACeD KIck cAuGhT him In tHe Cheek. he hiSSed, And curlEd tight agAin.

tHe wiNdOwS starteD rattling. At laSt, Everyone elSe BegAn to noTICe what he'D already sensed. Something WAs approAchIng. GrAduaLly, the attAckS on him SloWEd. StopPed. The Air thIcKenED.

unearTHLy SilEnCe blanketeD THe bUildiNg. dariUs didn't Move. This was magic liKE he'D never felt befOre. he knEW OnLy oNE pERsoN wHO coULD summon anything Like it.
All around him, energy was  building,  dark eni ng.  D ariu s co uld feel it cr a ckli ng over his skin. He r esist ed theu rg e towince." Th a t 'sno t— "
"A n dyou k now  what e lse?" Cand y M an  straightene d  a gain. "Fun nything. You u p a nd lea ve  th e  Poin t.Samefuckin g  day,our set g et s  buste d . Five- o h  s hows  up with fuckingb ul l etproof vestsand as sa u lt r ifl es,  know what  I 'm sa y ing? Kn e wa l l  ab o ut what we ha d stashed,w her e, how  m uch .  Almos t lik es ome one had tip ped'em off." 

Dari u s' hand s  went c old. " You  do n'tt hi nk —"
" W hat ?  T hat you 're a fu ck in g rat ?" C a n d y  Man 'svoic e boo med off the m eta l gi r der s. "T hat's  exa ct ly wh at I t hink! "
His leg movedin a  blur, an d s ha rppa in ex p lodedinDar ius' si de wher e  th eo t h er  man's shoe struck .T h eworld ti lted s i de wa y s.

Thene xtinst a n t hewaso nthe grou nd. Th e  c re w close din aro un d h im.  Fora  sec ond, h e though t heg limpsed Dantet hrough the se a  o f ha t e-fi lle d faces.

T hent he b lows st art e d com ing.
H e  c o uld have taken on o ne  of th em fo r sure. Two,easily. Th r e e , probab ly.B ut the hail of pu nches  and kicks that rai ned i n from e very dire c t ion wastoo  mu ch.  Da r i us  did the only t hing  l eft, cu rle d intoa b all  an d s hi elded his  head as  b es the  co uld.T he energ ywas  s til l ont he ris e. He  was  o nl y  di mly awa r eo f  it.  P ai n st raf ed  hisback ,  hi s legs,  his arms . M u ltip le  p airs of  hands grabbe dat him, tr ie d t o forc e his limb s open.

He felt the ma g ic in h isheadfirs t.

Initi all y, itfel t  likesomeon e had  c ran k e d a s u b wo ofe rto full-bl a s t.Bassno tesvibrate d inside his skull ,  mo re sensationtha n so u n d.  Hi s  b e lly  q u ive r e d. Darius turne d his head  s l ig htly, list e ned .
A well -placed  kick caughthim in th e cheek.He  his s e d,and curled  tight a gain.

Th e  wind o ws  star ted  rattl in g.At la st, ev e ryo ne el se beg an  to no ticewh at he'dalready sensed. Somethi ng was  appr oac hing. Gra dua l ly,  the atta ckson him slo wed . S toppe d.T he ai r th i ck ene d .

Un eart h ly silenc e  b lan k e te d the build i n g . D arius  di d n't mo ve.This was magic li k e he'd never f eltb e for e.H e kn ew  only one pers onwh o could su mm on anything  like it .
All around_him, energy_was building, darkening. Darius_could feel_it_crackling over_his_skin. He resisted_the urge to_wince. "That's not—"

"And you_know what else?"_Candy_Man straightened again. "Funny thing. You up and leave the Point. Same fucking day,_our_set gets_busted._Five-oh_shows up with fucking bulletproof_vests and assault rifles, know_what I'm_saying? Knew all about what we had stashed,_where,_how much. Almost_like someone had tipped 'em off."

Darius' hands went cold._"You don't think—"

"What? That you're a_fucking rat?" Candy_Man's_voice_boomed off the metal_girders. "That's exactly what I think!"

His_leg moved in a blur, and_sharp pain exploded in Darius' side where_the other man's shoe struck. The_world tilted sideways.

The next instant_he was_on the ground. The crew_closed in around_him. For_a second, he_thought he glimpsed Dante through the_sea of hate-filled_faces.

Then the blows started coming.

He could_have_taken on one_of_them_for sure._Two, easily. Three,_probably._But the_hail_of punches and kicks that rained_in_from every direction was too much. Darius_did the only thing_left,_curled into a ball_and shielded his head as_best he could. The energy was_still on_the rise._He was only dimly aware of it. Pain strafed his back,_his legs, his arms. Multiple pairs_of hands grabbed at_him, tried_to_force his limbs_open.

He_felt the_magic in his head first.

Initially, it felt_like someone_had cranked a subwoofer to full-blast._Bass notes vibrated inside_his_skull, more sensation than sound. His_belly quivered. Darius turned his head_slightly, listened.

A well-placed kick caught_him_in_the cheek. He hissed, and_curled tight again.

The windows started rattling._At last, everyone_else began to notice what he'd already_sensed._Something was approaching. Gradually, the attacks_on_him slowed. Stopped. The air thickened.

Unearthly_silence_blanketed_the building. Darius didn't move._This was magic like he'd never_felt before. He knew only one person who could_summon anything like_it.