(TATB) Ch 25: Dark Eyes, Getting Back What Was Taken!

(Sydney) I sat across from Victor in my tent, listening as he talked about his time with Skylar. There was something different about him ton

(Sydney)

I sat across from Victor in my tent, listening as he talked about his time with Skylar. There was something different about him tonight—something lighter in his voice, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"I never really thought a Brob could be like that," he admitted, shaking his head. "She's... different. One of a kind."

I smiled at that, leaning back in my chair. "Took you long enough to see it."

Victor huffed a small laugh. "Guess I was just stubborn."

"Yeah, no kidding," I teased. "But hey, I'm glad you finally get it. Skylar's not like the others. She actually cares about us."

Victor nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. "It's still crazy to me. A Brob—actually wanting to help us. Not out of pity, not out of guilt, but because she wants to." He let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know... it's just not something I ever thought I'd see."

I understood where he was coming from. We had spent our whole lives believing that Brobs only saw us as pests, or at best, tools to be used. But Skylar? She was proof that not all of them were like that. And now, Victor saw it too.

I decided to shift gears. "Speaking of the future," I said, leaning forward, "we've been making progress on the town."

Victor raised a brow. "Yeah?"

I nodded. "Dad and I have been going over plans. We're working on creating our own crop system. If we can get a stable food source going, we won't have to rely on Skylar as much. And we're also figuring out how to set up a water system. If we can do both, this place could actually support a hundred people—maybe even more."

Victor looked impressed. "That's... that's incredible."

I grinned. "We're getting there. Slowly but surely."

Victor was about to say something else when I suddenly realized something.

"Hey," I said, frowning. "I haven't seen Vu, Nemu, or Sawyer around. Have you?"

Victor went quiet for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he rubbed the back of his neck. "They left."

I blinked. "What?"

"They went back to their colony."

I shot up from my seat. "What!?"

Victor held up a hand. "Sydney—"

"Victor, are you kidding me? Skylar has rules! She said no one leaves!" My mind raced with all the ways this could go wrong. If Skylar found out... no, if another Brob found out, we could all be in danger.

Victor stayed calm, his voice steady. "I couldn't force them to stay, Sydney. And honestly? I think Skylar would want this too."

I stared at him, completely baffled. "How could you possibly think that?"

"It's not just about them wanting to go back," Sydney said. His tone was lower now, more serious. "I've been hearing rumors about that part of town. About some kind of Lilli gang that's been taking over colonies."

That caught Victor off guard. "A gang?"

I nodded. "I don't know much, but from what I've heard, they're not just a bunch of thugs. They're organized, and they're taking over entire groups of Lillis."

Victor frowned. "Why? What's the point?"

I sighed. "I don't know. Most Lillis are just trying to survive, but some... some have given up on that. They're trying to take control in whatever way they can."

I swallowed, suddenly feeling uneasy. If Vu, Nemu, and Sawyer ran into a group like that...

Victor pushed himself up from his seat.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

Victor grabbed his small pack and slung it over his shoulder. "I'm going to go get them back."

I felt my stomach drop. "Victor, you just got back. You can't seriously be—"

"I'll be gone for a few days."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Are you insane? You don't even know if these rumors are true!"

Victor met my gaze, his expression unreadable. "I have to find out."

I clenched my fists. "Victor, come on. We need you here. The town needs you."

"They need help more."

I had no idea how to argue with that.

I let out a frustrated breath. "I don't know what you're planning to do, but... just be careful, alright?"

Victor gave me a small smirk. "I always am."

I rolled my eyes, but deep down, I was worried. Really worried.

Victor stepped out of the tent, leaving me alone. For a few moments, I just stood there, trying to wrap my head around what just happened.

Then, the tent flap rustled again, and my dad, Gabriel, stepped inside.

He took one look at me and frowned. "What's wrong?"

I sat back down, rubbing my temple. "Victor just left."

Dad's expression darkened. "Where?"

"He went after Vu, Nemu, and Sawyer. They left for their old colony."

Dad's jaw tightened. "And you let him go?"

I sighed. "I couldn't stop him."

"Why not?"

I didn't answer right away. Because I didn't know how to explain it.

It wasn't just that Victor was determined. It was the way he looked before he left.

There was something in his eyes. Something dark.

Something I had never seen before.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to push the thought aside.

"He'll be fine," I muttered, more to myself than to my dad.

But deep down, I wasn't so sure.