Claire was the first person to publicly mention the Nightfall as a faction. Not even Jake and Veronica had done that.

Her saying that meant she was willing to be a part of Nightfall. Not because of the oath or anything else, but simply because it was the faction she wanted to be a part of.

Behind his mask of indifference, Kain heard his heart thump in his ears.

This is what he wanted. He wanted people who were willing to accept the faction, whether it was because of him or what it offered. He didn’t need those who were afraid of the oath.

He knew that hoping for everyone to protect the children would be out of the question. Even if the oath bound them to some degree. No one would join if he had nothing to offer.

Claire wanted something and so did Marcus. As for the lives of others who might be tied to Nightfall in the future, he was sure they would have their various reasons for joining.

But whatever it was, he was sure he could provide it.

"Okay," Kain said. "Floor Two. You can stay there for now."

Claire nodded, "Could I make a request?"

"I’m listening."

"I want to stay with the children. I’ll be their guard."

Amelia’s eyes narrowed. "Why?"

She didn’t ask if she could fight; she asked why. Amelia had no problem training a guard for each child. But those people would be under more restrictions. She didn’t want there to be any chance of betrayal.

Her thought was to have their guard grow up with them.

"This might sound like a silly reason, but I don’t want them to get hurt."

"It does sound silly," Kain retorted. "Let’s leave this one to the kids. Do the three of you want Claire to be your guard?"

All eyes fell on the children.

The three pairs of eyes found Claire’s.

"You three," Kain said through the link. "Before you make your decision, think carefully."

He didn’t continue to listen. This was their own decision to make. If she betrayed them, it would also be their own failure.

The burden was on their shoulders, but they didn’t know that yet.

"Aunt Claire can be our guard," Dominic spoke out.

"That’s decided. See if Floor Three has any space. If not, stay on Floor Two like I said before."

Claire and Veronica left the room, leaving the family of five.

"What happened in the room?" Amelia turned to him, leaning in.

"What makes you think something happened?" Kain smirked.

"Don’t give me that look." She turned to Ashton and Dominic."Boys, don’t be like your father. Tell mom what happened."

Dominic turned to Kain, but Ashton had no such reservations.

"Mom! He’s dead, but he’s alive, but he’s dead. The body bead tried to go back into his body. Brother saw his number move from zero to one. Dad said I could test what happens if the bead goes back in."

His face saddened momentarily before his smile came back. "Dad said we can’t take him from the bed, so after they wrap him up, we need to switch it out. Dad said we’re doing a body swap heist."

"Your dad says a lot of things, doesn’t he?"

Ashton nodded, beaming.

Kain cleared his throat. "It’s for research," he said righteously.

"Seriously, Amy. I think we should let the kid research it. The shit I knew before seems irrelevant. We’re crossing into territory about how the human body and Source Energy work together."

"I never said I wouldn’t let him do it," she replied. "Now, how are we supposed to steal a body in plain sight?"

Smiling smugly, Kain said, "Leave it to me. Some sleight of hand and it’s all fine." He turned to Ashton, "I’m going to need your help, kid. What do you say?"

Ashton grinned.

"We’ll all help," Amelia replied.

For the next hour, the family of five stayed in the station. They moved from Avery’s training room to Ashton’s lab. They use Dominic’s room to keep an eye on the outside.

In that hour, they managed to create a mannequin that had the same approximate weight and height as Matthew. All that was left to do was to switch it out with the real body.

When everything was ready, they headed downstairs. Food was piled around the room, on tables out in the hallway. Rather than a funeral, it looked like a celebration.

Claire stood in the midst of it, stone-faced. She wasn’t hanging her head, and she didn’t cry. She didn’t feel the need to do either.

As for the assumption of people around her, it was irrelevant.

As soon as she saw the family of five arrive, she made her way over to them. As if it were already agreed, Claire took care of the children. She brought them to a food section she had prepared for them earlier.

Kain took over as soon as he arrived. He walked to Matthew’s body, which had been wrapped. The wrapping on the mannequin was the same.

"Unfortunately," he began, "we have lost a comrade today. It teaches us about the fragility of life. The world is no longer what it used to be. We must each rise up and become stronger so we don’t let down our friends and loved ones.

As we send him off today, let’s remember his goodness in our hearts. I ask everyone to bow their heads, and let’s have a moment of silence to remember him."

Each person in the room bowed their head. In that one minute, Kain raised his hand to touch the body and switched it out.

"Now, let’s send him off."

The rest of the ceremony proceeded orderly. The body was fitted with life buoys so it could stay afloat. The raft sent it out. When they were a distance away, the body was set on fire and pushed out to float.

The next segment was filled with people eating and drinking. Kain had made today a holiday of sorts. No one went out to hunt. Only the chores that should be done, such as cleaning, would be done, and everyone would need to take part in the cleanup.