Jackson watched her start to head off, before gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey." he said.

"You look really stressed. Like... REALLY stressed." he commented.

"If you need anything, let me know." he told her.

"Okay?" he asked.

"Talk to me if you think you want or need help."

Jackson said nothing more as she continued on, leaving him behind.

"...." he continued to be silent, before looking away.

"Why...?" he mumbled.

"Why do I get the feeling I made that worse...?" he asked himself.

"But... how?" he wondered aloud.

'I just... want to help her. Try and keep her moving on...' he then thought, before starting to slowly walk forward, not paying much attention to anything, now.

- - -

The crowd cheered and roared, as several floating sword hovered above Jaden... and then fell, one by one, seemingly impaling him through his head and palms. However, after brief pause, Jaden removed each sword as if it were nothing.

"Heh." he chuckled.

"Is that the best you can do!?" he demanded of the female he was sharing the stage with.

Jaden just smirked, and pretended his didn't notice the rapier floating behind him.

"Mmm." he mumbled, doing his best to keep his cool.

Off the stage, she was a very different person, sweet and kind, maybe a little shy, but on stage, acting cool, calm, and cocky? He had to admit, he loved that about her.

"You flatter me." he said.

"But enough!" he declared.

"If you dare... then strike me down NOW!" he commanded, as the audience roared once more.

However, at the very same instant that he finished that statement, and the crowd started to cheer, a tiny concentrated beam of light shot down from an angle on high. It was for the briefest of moments, and hardly anyone would have seen it. Even if they had, it could be mistaken for a trick of the light, or the eye.

But that would have gone away in an instant, when Jaden's expression changed from confident and commanding... to shocked and stunned. He looked down at his chest, as the clothing he was wearing started to become stained red at the chest. He then looked towards the woman, concern and pain in his expression, as a trickle of blood dripped down from the corner of his mouth, and he collapsed to his knees.

And then a woman in the audience let out a high-pitched shriek of horror.

It was at that point, in all the commotion, and before Kalin could properly get Rene, she noticed something. There was a clanging noise, and she saw what looked to be a canister clatter and fall next to them.

Before she could even do anything, the canister expelled sickly green gas around the two of them.

Instantly, as the gas touched them, she could feel her nerves start to misfire and freeze up. Essentially, her nervous system was confused, and even paralysed. She couldn't move properly at all.

And she couldn't access her mana properly, either. She could feel her grasp on it start to slip away from her.

Which was when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach, like she'd just been shot.

Darrell hadn't had a chance to say anything to Kalin, before she said what she did, gave him the card, hugged him, and sent him on his way. He looked back towards the stage, now obscured with gas, and bit his lip, before going to Kalin's office.

He used the card and got inside, before looking at his phone.

"....." he was silent, before finding the number for the one he immediately thought of.

If anyone could help, they can.

So he dialled their number and waited for them to answer.

"G-Grandma." Darrell stammered.

"There's been an attack." he told her.

"Dad was shot. And then there was gas. And I think Mom was shot, too." he went on.

"This... this was a targetted attack." he continued.

"Kalin's trying to help, but I don't know what that gas is going to do. She might need help.' he then said.

"Actually, we need help." he clarified.

"I think you're the only one that can do anything right now. Please?" he practically begged.

Darrell was silent as the phone call ended, and he just looked at the closed door.

"Mom... Dad..." he whispered quietly, fearing for their safety.

Meanwhile, the bouncers and security were doing all they could to try and evacuate people, and keep them from climbing up on stage to get to Desiree and Jaden. They were succeeding at the latter, at least.

Rene was there as well, pausing at the gas, and gritting his teeth.

"Damn it, something's off with that crap." he growled.

"Kalin, can you use your wind to blow this shit away!?" he called to Kalin.

Rene watched as Kalin went for Jaden, before making his way to Desiree.

"Desiree!" he exclaimed.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Describe it to me." he said further.

In the back of his mind, he was VERY confused.

Kalin had not been able to blow the gas away. Why? She had wind mana.

Was something wrong?

Rene's eyes widened.

"No..." he whispered.

"KALIN!" he exclaimed.

"They need to get to the hospital! NOW!" he yelled.

"Bring Jaden to me!" he went on.

"Time is a factor! They might die if this isn't done quickly!"

Rene was a bit stunned when Sydney made her declaration/threat.

He then shook his head and disappeared with Jaden and Desiree.

Meanwhile, in Kalin's office, Darrell was still in there, his ear pressed against the door.

He was trying to hear something.

Anything.

He wanted to know what was happening.