5.08

Taylor, Bitch, and Sundancer, astride Brutus, head back towards the warehouse to aid Newter, despite Bitch’s reluctance. Bitch argues they should be fighting Lung instead, but Taylor insists, reminding her that Faultline might retaliate if Newter dies. They arrive at the warehouse, discovering it’s a drug processing facility.

Taylor, hindered by the fear of Newter’s toxic blood, instructs Bitch to find gloves or a first aid kit. The building rumbled with impacts, reminding her of their priorities. She checks the office for supplies, finding stained bed sheets and a plastic sheet, while her bugs gather money from the safe. Drugs, she thought, had always scared her, and seeing this operation made her anxious.

Bitch returns with gloves and a near-empty first aid kit. Taylor and Sundancer, now wearing plastic gloves over their own, move Newter onto the plastic sheet. Bitch is sent to find purses among the discarded clothes of the drug workers. Taylor explains to Sundancer that they’ll use sanitary pads from the purses as makeshift bandages.

After bandaging the wound as best as they can, they carry Newter downstairs and place him on Brutus. Suddenly, a massive crash signals the arrival of Lung, who is now enormous and heavily scaled, along with several ABB members. Kaiser, Fenja, and Menja also enter through the hole in the wall.

Taylor urges Bitch to leave with Newter and seek medical help, emphasizing the importance of preventing Faultline from retaliating. Bitch hesitates but eventually complies. Lung, now monstrous and barely human, confronts Taylor. Kaiser calmly intervenes, creating a blade of steel to deter Lung.

As Fenja and Menja join the standoff, Bitch departs with Newter. Judas and Angelica stay behind, tense and ready to defend Taylor and Sundancer against the assembled villains. The chapter ends with the groups facing off, the tension thick in the air.