Random meeting and blood~Nick~

[Jack Lexington]

I'm surprise how much unexpected support I get from her brother. The good samaritan seems to run in the family when I expected them to be against me because I'm putting their sister in danger. I alwyas thought everybody who knew what I've done or who I am would be against me but this family is proofing me so wrong.

I try hard to breath calmly and not freak completely out but it's hard. I have to keep shifting positions because my right side hurts with every deep breath I take. Yet I manage to listen closely to Hammils words of reason. He tells me that Nitya is strong which is nothing new. She's especially strong with emotions, which makes me beleive she will last though an interrogation. If she gives up anything not only I'm done but most of all she will be because it proofs her connection to me. "I just hope she won't say anything."

Hammil quickly talks some sense into me. The reason that seems the most important to me is that if I walk in to trade myself in for her it will mean that she's guilty and I don't want that. So I stay put and wreck my brain what we could do to help Nitya.
Hammil sounds so confident when he tells me we will get her back that I trust him. "I can't imagine what would happen if they put her in the detentions center. What can we do to help her? There has to be something...what will they do...question her where I am and if she doesn't give up anything....?"
I lower myself onto a fallen tree and put my head in my hands.
"Is there any way to free her? Is there anybody you know who has enough weight to put a word in for her?"
My reasoning ends her and desperation takes over when nothing else comes to mind.
"Damn it!" I shout and hammer my fist against the bark of the tree

--
After hundreds of interrogations the officer has become very experienced at reading body language. So he's studying her closely. She's scared that much is clear but most people are when they come in unless they come to collect ransom.

The woman has the audacity to tell him that she didn't know where the fugitive was.
The only things she's giving up is that he was wounded. So he picks that statement up by asking. "And is he recovering or still in bad shape?" His eyes narrow searching for a reaction.

Then he walks behind her circling Nitya like a tiger circles his prey. From behind he grabs her hair and yanks it back. A moment later his face is right above hers.
"Location, now!" His tone is hard but suddenly becomes much softer and almost comassionate. "IOr have you fallen for his baby blues?"
He grabs a picture print out from the wall, that has been pinned there next to a few other wanted people. It's one of Nick at a much younger age of maybe 14. No beard, no signs of age and a lot skinnier. "I understand, Nitya. If you really like him you have to give us his location so we can safely bring him in before we find him on the run and have to gun him down."

[Nitya Demont]

Hammil was very sure of himself as he spoke. "She won't say anything that will give them any clue as to where you are. That just isn't her." Nitya was way too loyal for that, and he had seen how she had felt about him in her eyes. There was no way she'd say anything. Of course, that would get her into trouble, but she would be fine. He just had to keep on thinking that.

For a moment, Hammil simply let Nick go on and get his questions out. Some of them were ones that he had asked himself, and others he had not thought of but was now worried about. "Don't think about it; they won't put her in there." He felt sure of that. "I'm not sure we know anybody that high up. With the people we are well liked, but you know how the uppers are," he said honestly. His mind is still working on ideas when Nick is taken over.

Slowly an idea formed in Hammil's mind. "Nick, it might be a long shot, but what if you let yourself be sighted. Titus, Gaius and I can help cause a distraction so that you can get away. That way it looks like Nitya doesn't really know anything, and you will still be free. We can meet up after that. What do you think?"

Perhaps it wasn't much of an idea, but it was something. The three brothers were very good at causing a stir without being suspected, so there was that going for them. Besides, it was better than trying to get too many people involved. Who knew what that would cause. Besides, they needed to get Nitya out of there as quickly as possible.

--
"I don't know. It's been a while since he was brought in, so he could be recovering I guess." I know that saying I don't know only probably isn't the best idea, so I add a little. It is a guess that he's recovering still. I'm hoping that by doing part truths my reactions are not out of the ordinary for the questions.

What happens next I'm not expecting at all. The jerk on my hair sends a sharp pain into my head, and I let out a slight yelp of pain. My heart is pounding, and having someone's face that close to me is scary for sure. "I don't know where he is," I answer again. However, his change in demeanor throws me for a loop. He knows about the other girls too huh?

When he pulls out a picture, it's hard to believe that it's Nick on the flyer. He looks so much different now. It's a little strange seeing it when the Nick I know seems like a completely different person. "I don't know where he is," I say again. There's nothing else I can safely say.

[Jack Lexington]

"I know she won't give me up." I tell him because there's nothing more sure in my world than her devotion to me. "She's been with me all the way to the coast when the accident happened and she stayed at the coast guards. You should have seen her. She looked so tired and worn out when I woke up but she was there holding my hand." The words almost get stuck in my throat that tightens more and more. But I clear it before any sign of weakness can show.

I was hoping that they might have some connection to people in high places but Hammil crushes that hope. Instead he comes up with another idea, which doesn't make sense to me right away.
"Wouldn't they know what's going on when they see you. You all bear so much resemblance it's really easy to put two and two together."
Falling silent I look away and try to come up with another solution. This one seems too risky. I'm pretty sure if I show myself they will catch me and then I'm done for. I will not be able to endure any sort of physical punishment at the moment.

Unfortunately i cannot think of anything else so I keep kicking my foot at the dead, brown leaves on the ground. "I can't think of anything else but I'm willing to do whatever it takes. If that helps her I'm in."
Finally I look up at him and hope he will figure out a more water proof plan that this.

"What about breaking her out?" I ask even though I know the idea is even more stupid than it sounds.
--

The indefinite answers that Nitya is feeding the peace keeper with make him very unhappy very quickly. It was clear that she was just circling around giving them a straight answer and again she claims that she has no idea where he is, twice which is just a bit too much to be true.
Without warning he backhands Nitya so hard that it almost knocks her off her chair and leaves a burning red streak on her cheek.

Without a word he stands back, leans on the table in front of her and stares her down.
His eyes narrow as he is waiting for an answer.
When it doesn come the other peace keeper follows his nod and grabs her from behind, placing her hand spread out on the table.
With his eyes trained on the girl, who is clearly afraid he slams the hard rubber club down on the thick wooden table right next to her hand. Underneath her fingers are various indentations of previous interrogations.
The next hit will smash at least one finger if not her whole hand.
His club high above his head he tells her. "Last chance, Miss Desmont."

Suddenly the door behind them opens up and a stern looking woman comes hurrying in placing a sheet of paper on the table next to the club and Nityas hand. She shoots the girl a grim look and then tells the officers. "Her brother has been over fishing sector 3. You an revoke his license."

With an evil smirk the man turns to Nitya. "And that's just the start...I'm sure we can find more. Do you really want that for your family?"

[Nitya Demont]

That definitely sounded like Nitya. She wouldn't think anything of herself while she was worried over somebody else. Unfortunately, that could get her into trouble as well. That was one of the reasons they really needed to get her out of there. She would protect Nick without even thinking about how much she might be hurting. Who knew what injuries she might get from the pks. However, he kept these worries to himself. He was sure that Nick had thought of the same thing. What they needed was to get this plan together.

Hammil could see where Nick was coming from, but there were way to handle things. "My brothers and I can cause disturbances without being seen. Besides, we do have support of a lot of people. Not everybody is happy with how things are done, so we support one another. That and if we put on our fishing gear, we look pretty much like anyone else." For a moment he paused to think of another idea. "One of us would be standing by to help you get out of there of course. Another idea would be to make it look like myself and Titus are bringing you in, and Gaius can cause a distraction. Honestly, no plan is going to be one hundred percent golden. That's just not how things work here," he said being completely honest.

Though he seemed calm, Hammil was growing more and more worried as time passed. Freeing someone from the pks, especially under circumstances like this was not easy. It would be a lot easier if something happened that would make them forget about Nick. It would be easier if somehow they could break into someplace official and send a note saying that Nick had been caught in another district, but that just wouldn't happen. Everything would be risky, but they had to free her.

At Nick's suggestion, he shook his head. "We can't do that," he says simply. There would be way too much that could go wrong with that.
--
The smack hurts and stings. I cry out and bring my hand up to touch it. There is definitely going to be a mark left later, and I feel sure there is a hand on my face now. It hurts, and I can feel tears coming to my eyes from the pain. However, I absolutely refuse to do that here.

This is getting serious very quickly, and I'm scared. The sound of the club makes me jump which is hard to do while I'm being held down. Honestly, I fully expected to hear and feel a sickening crunch, but that apparently was a warning. The feel of the indentations under my fingers feels me with even more fear, but I just won't turn Nick in. I absolutely refuse.

When the door opens, and the woman comes in, I think she's coming to say that they caught Nick. However, what she says fills me with horror. Quickly I try to think which brother it is that she could be talking about, and I realize it's Gaius. That's his favorite place to go. What can he have been thinking, and how can they be doing this? It isn't their fault. It's all on me, but then again, I should have been expecting this to happen.

The smirk on the man's face makes me want to vomit. Choosing between Nick and my family is not something I ever wanted to do. I want to keep Nick safe, but I also don't want my family to suffer from my decisions. I know it will be my brothers that will bear the brunt as my parents are way too obedient to the outside world than my brothers and I. This just can't be happening. I'd rather take all the beatings and whatever else they can throw at me than have this choice.

[Jack Lexington]

The peace keeper is very good at reading physical reactions even if they are very subtle- be it the tiniest bit of shaking or sweat or even your pupils dialating. He could tell that Nitya was ready to pee her pants when the club hit the surface yet there was this stregth and determination in her expression that let him know it would take much more than the club breaking her hand. If anything it'd make her more determined.
However things changed when the message about over fishing came in. A small flicker in her eyes gave away that this would be the route to go.
"Revoke his license. Also the license on any boat he or his family owns. He can't go out any more this season."
His eyes were now away from Nitya because he knew he had found her weak spot.
"Also get me the papers for the their family business...it looks like they're permit is expiring soon. I'm sure the other businesses will be doing much better without the big fish being around."

He followed her in front of the door and closed it behind himself.
"Put word out there that we have this girl. He might just come walking in himself. We have only three more days until I'll have to report to the capitol. We'd better make some progress. I don't know what the big fuzz is. I guess we don't have enough real criminals out here."

--

"I just don't get why I'm so important to them. It's not like a robbed a bank or killed anyone." I shake my head in desperation. "What's the big deal with crossing borders?"
I guess they were really desperate to keep people from doing that. Maybe information would spread too easily then.
I'm worried that they will try to put me in the market square and execute me in front of everybody's eyes to scare them away from district hopping.
"You can't act as if you're bringing me in because they'll know your connection to her."

I have a few ideas going through my head now.
"What if we commit some bigger crime to shift their priorities away from her." I shake my head. "Stupid idea."
I shake my hand as I'm getting desperate for some sort of solution.

"Would your friends lie for you and tell the pks that they've seen me in other towns further up the coast to proof that I can't have been with Nitya?"
"I'll tell you what. I'm going to move up the coast anyway and let people see me there. Maybe cause a fight in a bar or something to get their full attention. If you could have my back there I'd be very thankful because otherwise I might not make it out."
I can't think of anything better than that.

[Nitya Demont]

This was not happening. It wasn't fair, but then again, the pks and the capitol never played fair. All she wanted to do was help someone that was in trouble and that she had come to care for. Now, it was her family that was paying for it. What would Gaius say? What would their family do? With five of them, not including Nitya, they needed everything that they could get even if they were one of the bigger fishing families. Now, she really felt like she could vomit, but she still couldn't bring herself to give him up. If she gave him up, she'd also be giving up part of her that she valued, and she would not let the pks take that from her.

However, she found herself almost crying when he said perhaps the other businesses would be better without her family's business. It was one thing to have one of them unable to fish, but the business loss would mean that they'd have to find something else. Jobs that paid enough to make sure all of them stayed fed were hard to come by. The worst knowledge was the fact that this was her fault. She had brought this upon her family. Rather than go back with Titus, she should've stayed with Nick or gone her own way. Now, everything and everybody she loved could be in danger.

As hard as it is, I manage to hold myself together. At lease, I manage to until he leaves. Then I turn away from the door, and let the tears fall silently for a moment before brushing them aside. If he comes back, I don't want him to see me like this. My hand reaches up to my cheek again. It still stings, and I can still feel where he pulled my hair and marks from where people have grabbed me since I came here. The walls close in a little, and while I still feel strong, part of me feels broken knowing what's happened and knowing what will happen to Nick and my family.

--
Hammil shrugged his shoulders; it wasn't something that he understood either. "I'm not sure. It's probably because they like to keep us contained and competitive to an extent. Who knows though." He supposed that there could be something special about Nick, but it seemed more likely that the capitol just wanted everybody separated.

When Nick started to come up with some ideas, Hammil considered all of them fairly. While every plan would be risky, they needed to have one that would get Nitya free with the least amount of damage in other places. The first idea isn't the best, but drawing their priorities is a good idea. "Actually, shifting their focus would probably be good. Something bigger always take precedent over the small things when it comes to crime here," he said seriously.

The next suggestion is actually pretty good. "Yeah, they would. We'd have to be careful with choosing. It can't be too obvious, so we'd need them to be a little spaced out." Getting Nitya shouldn't be too big a problem after that. Of course they'd have to act pretty quickly.

"Oh, we can definitely do that," Hammil said with a smile. Of course, Nick wasn't from the district, so he wouldn't know much about the three brothers. All of them were quite good in a fight. "You'll get out no problem. We'll need to disguise ourselves a bit; if Nitya's brothers are seen with you, it could get sticky." Then, he turned a serious eye to Nick. "What about after that? Nitya's going to want to see you," he said.

[Jack Lexington]

Without any doubt or feeling the peace keeper signs the papers to revoke Nityas brothers fishing license, which means that he will loose his income and way to get by. As easily he puts his name on the dotted line as hard it will be for the young man, who has done nothing wrong.

Then he tells his officer to get the papers of her fathers business out. With them in his hand he makes his way back to the room Nitya has silently been crying in. It's easy to tell she's been shedding a tear because her eyes are red rimmed and her breathing is a tiny tad harder than before.
"Why don't you make this easier on yourself and the ones you really love? It really makes me wonder what this man means to you?"
He comes around to her front and eyes her curiously. "Did he promise to take you to a better place? Is he your lover? He must have great power over you if you choose him over your family."
Slowly he places the papers in front of her.
"How far are you willing to go for him?"

The more time passes the more desperate I'm getting so when he tells me his opinion I let my eyes wander around to make sure nobody is watching us and then nod.
"I really want to see her as well but only if it's not too risky for her. It is solely her decision. I'd do anything for her. Nitya has saved my life, I believe....and she still is."
I take a deep breath because her bravery is beyond my grasp.

"Okay. let's do this. I need to make my way up the coast and you have to tell these people to let the peace keepers know that they've seen me there. How do I get there fast enough?"
My eyes wander over to where I can see the beach and waves behind the trees. "Do you have a fast boat?"

It doesn't take long for us to make our way to their personal dock where I board their fastest sail boat and lay down to hide.
Hamill promises to come back as soon as he's talked to his brothers but the wait still seems to be incredibly long.
I busy myself drinking some water and eating some bread. The rest is great to recover form the run and makes me feel better.

It's a great relief to see him come back and we soon set the sail to head up the coast.
I cast a glance at him. "Thank you for helping me. I really don't know why you are so incredibly..." I'm searching for the right word but can't find it. "I mean you don't really know me...yet you're willing to risk your health for me. I can't thank you enough. I'm in your debt."

[Nitya Demont]

The man comes back into the room, and I immediately see the papers in his hand. From where I sit, I can't see what exactly they are, but I know it isn't good. It's either my family's business or my brother's license papers. Thinking about either is enough to bring tears back up in my throat, but I hold them back. Still, much more of this, and I know I won't be able to hold them back for long. Why is finding Nick such a big deal anyway? He isn't the only wanderer out there, I'm sure. What's the deal now?

When he speaks, his words feel like poison in my head. They have me wondering about whether or not my family will ever forgive me for this. Of course, there is nothing I can say, not that I would anyway. I don't know where Nick is; if they didn't find him at his house, then I have no idea where he would go. After a moment, I find words to say. "I honestly don't know where he is or where he would go. He promised me nothing; we are not lovers." That is all that I can say, and it is true in a way. We spoke no real promises that would be of interest to the pks, and we aren't exactly lovers. Honestly, there is nothing I can tell him; at least I don't think there is. My eyes stay on the papers, and I know that I have probably just sealed my family's fate be it good or ill.
-----------------------------------------------------
For a moment, Hammil was silent as he considered some things. "I think at this point, you might as well see her. She'll try to see you anyway, and I think it might be good for the two of you to be together, as much as it pains me to say. After all, I am her brother." He made no other comment on the two of them seeing one another; right now their biggest concern was getting her out of that place.

"Yes, we have boats. They'll get us there quickly. We'll take one of the ones without our crest on it; nobody has seen it before, so they won't think it's us." Everything had to be thought out and taken care of quickly.

After leaving Nick in the boat, Hammil rushed to talk to his brother. Gaius was now back at home, and the three of them quickly made plans, and the two quickly set out to spread the word and ask for help. Hammil quickly changed his clothes and made his face rather dirty to change his appearance. Hopefully, he wasn't as recognizable now. Then, he made his way back out to the boat.

Hammil keeps an eye on the water as he speaks. "No need for thanks. Look, Nitya trusts you, and she hardly ever trusts anyone. That's enough for me. Besides, my brothers and I truly think this is the right thing to do. Some things just aren't right, and what the pks are doing is one of them." The next while passed quickly, and soon they were there.

"Alright, let's do this. The pks should think that you're up here soon, so let's move fast."

[Jack Lexington]

The peace keeper pushed both papers towards Nitya, who looked desperate. Yet she wouldn’t tell him where Nick was. For a moment it crossed his mind that maybe she really didn’t know. Maybe the guy had covered his back by not telling her anything. Maybe he had blackmailed her.
“Did Mr. Travis force you to help him?” He asked a little calmer. “Because if that’s the case you only need to sign a statement and we’ll let you go.”
He placed his palm on the papers again and added in a very calm tone. “Think about it. Here’s your brothers fishing license and the business papers of your father. Just think about it. You have 5 minutes.”

--

The waves that are gently rocking the boat and the wind in our hair makes me feel at home on the water. It calms me down and helps me to think a little straighter. For a while I contemplate whether I’m willing to take the risk of showing myself and relying on her brothers to save me. I wonder whether this could actually be a trap for me. After all it’s their sister, who’s being held by peace keepers because of me. If the keepers have me they will let her go.
My eyes wander over to his face, to those dark eyes that reveal nothing. They look the same as Nityas but don’t hold the same emotion.
Whatever her brothers might be planning I owe my girl so I silently tell myself that I will do it. For her.

The ride in the boat gives me enough time to regain some strength and even snooze a bit.
When the boat stops rocking I know we’re there. Up here there are high cliffs, much higher than the ones in the south. I let my eyes wander their length and don’t see how we’re going to get up there until we actually stand in the water and her brother motions for a ladder.

About 20 minutes later we have reached a small fisher town nearby that sits high up on the cliff. Unfortunately around here there are only a few trees here and there, which will make hiding very difficult.

Her brother points further east. “The district line is only 30 minutes walk from here. We should head inland and make sure a few people see you on the way.”


OOC: Don't you think Nitya should feed the pks something?

[Nitya Demont]

Nitya was definitely feeling desperate. As much as she wanted to protect Nick, she also didn't want her family to suffer for this. There was no way to know where Nick was, and the pk had just given her a good out. She just hoped that Nick would understand. She wouldn't tell the pks where he was or anything like that; she'd lie. She was desperate, and the shame she felt for telling this lie would probably read as shame for being tricked. At least, that's what she hoped would happen.

For a moment, she stared in her lap. Tears fell for the first time, and after a moment she was able to speak. "Yes, but I didn't realize it at the time. I didn't even know he wasn't from District 4 until they told me at the coast guard station." Again, she took a deep breath to try and steady herself. "He got injured while we were out on a boat; they took out a kidney. He wasn't in good shape."

The man had given me five minutes, but too much hesitation and I wouldn't be able to do it. Plus, it would seem as though I did have something she was holding back. Now, she just sat in silence trying to keep her tears to a minimum.
--
Hammil looked around them and noted another body. "It looks like Titus is here," he said. "Hopefully we don't look like us, but we will be out of sight from time to time." He paused for a moment before he spoke again. "Whatever happens we got your back. I have a feeling we're going to see more of you if this all works out."

By this time, Titus was with them as well. His face was obscured for the most part by a hat and fishing sweater. He'd even cut his hair a bit and was dirty. They needed to look different from Nitya so that people couldn't identify them. They walked on, and the brothers both hoped that this would help get their sister out of that place. Their hands clenched a little when they thought of what might be happening to her.

OOC: You were right. Hope this is ok.

[Jack Lexington]

The fact that she was finally telling him something under tears made the peace keeper think that the pressure had finally gotten to her. Her words seemed credible,too.
It was satisfying when he was finally getting what he needed.
"So he forced you to help him. Miss Desmont, please understand, you are not our main objective, no matter whether you knew who he was or not. However the coast guard told us that you brought him in and left with him by knocking one of them out. Who did the knocking out and why did you run away with him? Were you forced to or did you help him escape on your own free will? Trust me, I can see through all bullshit. Don't even try." Once again he looked at the papers in a demonstrative way.
'You're almost out of here!"

--

The closer we get to executing our incredibly risky and somewhat stupid plan the more nervous I get.
To see that the brothers are both here to cover my back makes me feel somewhat easier. Nityas support was great but two strong guys are even better when it came down to a fight.
Hammils remark about maybe seeing me more often even puts a faint smile on my face. "I hope so." I confess."
Then I straighten my back and give them a nod. "Okay, let's do this!"

Stepping out onto the open street I approach two people having a conversation. At first they are too busy to notice me but then I clear my throat and ask. "Excuse me, I'm not from around here. Could you tell me where I can buy some bandages?"

The two give me a bit of a strange look but then point me in the direction of a small store.
I slowly make my way there and enter. Behind me a glass door closes with my picture and a reward underneath it, which I'm completely oblivious to.
Instead I approach the woman behind the counter and ask for a few things, which she is handing over to me.
Our plan works a little faster than expected when instead of telling me the price she studders. "Just keep it, no problem."
Her friendliness confuses me until I notice her shaking hands and her eyes darting to the door behind me. Slowly I turn around to see my very own picture pinned to it.
"Damn." escapes my lips.
"Don't hurt me." She begs before I can even explain myself. So I simply shake my head, place my money on the counter and grab the food and drink she's sold me.
"I won't." With that I dash out the door because I know she will be calling the peace keepers any moment.

It doesn't take long until the familiar sirens give away that something's wrong and I head towards Hammil and Titus, who are waiting behind a bush.

[Nitya Demont]

I continued to cry a little but was actually able to speak. "Look at me. There's no way that I could've knocked the coast guard out. I'm probably not even tall enough let alone strong enough." Honestly, I did look pretty weak, and I hadn't done it. At the same time, I hated that it was true that I didn't look strong. "I ran away because I was scared. A coast guard member had just been knocked out; I didn't know what to do. I panicked."

I find my voice is starting to choke a little, so I lapse into silence. It's embarrassing to be crying here in front of this man whom I don't know. Most people have never seen me cry, and doing so now is hard. Still, at least I've been able to talk through all of this.

--
Titus and Hammil watched as Nick let himself be seen out in the open by two people. They didn't call anyone right away, so that was good. As quietly as they could, the two brothers followed Nick, staying hidden in trees and bushes. They watched the looks of the people, and there was no mistaking the fact that they recognized him. When Nick goes inside the store, they noticed the wanted sign and the reward. Immediately, they both muttered the same thing. "This isn't good." Quickly, they moved to a nearby bush.

The sirens sound a lot quicker than the brothers would've thought. Luckily, Nick makes it out and finds them quickly. They usher him a little deeper into the brush. There's no telling how quickly the pks will make it to the spot. Hopefully, they will also alert the pks that had Nitya so when they got home she'd be free.

"Alright, let's get out of here," Titus said. "Time is kind of important here."

[Jack Lexington]

The girls argument about being to small and weak makes sense to the peace keeper but it leaves the question open how an wounded guy could take on a healthy coast guard. Something was off. He was, however satisfied with what Nitya had given him.

After looking at her for a long moment to make sure she's not holding anything back he nodded.
"We'll put your statement on paper. Sign it and you're free to go. But make sure to let us know when he gets in touch with you because if you don't you are committing a crime and we won't be as easy on you a second time." He noticable touched his club and then left Nitya alone again.

Only ten minutes later a paper with her statement that she had been forced by Nick to help her when he was wounded and that she ran away out of fear but never saw him again, was put in front of her together with a pen.

The peace keepers relaxed a little but started dicussing what their next stepped would be. "We need to track him down before the next reeping." The exchanged a few words because their orders had be clear. Kids were supposed to be scared away from running from their districts to evade the reepings. This had to be made clear but a wanderer getting punished in front of all of those kids eyes.

--
I leap into the bushes as fast as I can but these fast movements put a lot of strain on my wound and make me double over once I found a safe spot.
With sirens blaring in the background I can only huff. "Didn't think they'd set of the alarm this fast."
I can't help but wonder what will happen next. Will I really manage to escape whoever they are sending after me?" Involuntarily my hands start shaking but I try my best not to let it show.
"Where can I hide up here?"
I ask and notice that this is something we should have figured out before.
My eyes scan the area behind the bushes. There are only a few trees and scattered rocks. From here on it's simply rolling hills all the way to the district fence which rules out that direction.

looking into the other direction I decide. "I'll try to hide in somebodys backyard, maybe a barn or shed."
At the same moment I can hear the sirens of a peace keeper vehicle arrive not too far away so I get up again and nod at the brothers. "Cover my back."

As fast and unnoticably as I can I duck from bush to bush and head over towards a row of older houses because they have the best hiding spots. On the street people are gathering and I can hear the hard tone of some peace keepers who are much too close for my taste.

The first fence has holes in it and isn't hard to cross but I know I need to get much further away from the shop in order to be safe. So I run through the back yard to the other side and struggle to climb the wall to the next one. It takes me two tries and a lot of energy to make it over it. On the other side I make sure that there's nobody in the yard but am unlucky. A big dog has spotted me on his property and is heading straight towards me barking angrily. I pick up my feet and run like the wind. Just when I think he must have me a chain holds him back but the noise has put the keepers on my track.

[Nitya Demont]

Nitya took a deep breath to try and stop her tears as she signed her name to her statement. She didn't want her writing to be shaky for this. When the guard touched the club, she had cringed slightly. Her experience had not been the best, and she had no desire to repeat it. Inside, she was still shaking at the memory of what had happened to her over the past couple of what seemed like ages. She just wanted to leave, somehow see Nick and try to forget all about this whole ordeal.

When she was led out, she noticed a few faces looking at her. Some seemed to be looking at her with sympathy and others with some sort of smugness. Clearly, they thought her broken, and though she was cut down a little, she was determined that she would not let them beat her. Now, she just hurried as quickly as she dared from the room. The first thing to do was to go home. Hopefully her brothers would know what to do.

--
Titus and Hammil continued to run with Nick. Their quick eyes scanned the area trying to find some area for him to hide. "They do move fast," Hammil agreed. "However, we're pretty quick ourselves. Remember, we got your back." Meanwhile, Titus continued looking for a place, but there really wasn't that much at all.

"That may be your best shot. There is nothing out here." Then the peace keeper vehicle arrived. The brothers heard the voices of the pks and quickly nodded at Nick. "No worries. We got it," they said at the same time. "No matter what, we're getting you out of here." They followed out of sight and were prepared for whatever was to happen.

The peacekeepers started to close them down, and the brothers knew that they would probably need to cause a distraction of some sort. Fortunately, the pks weren't looking for them; they had no idea they were even with Nick. This was definitely going to be interesting.
---
The peacekeepers were not happy. This young, impudent wanderer had been dancing out of their grasp for a while now. They were so close now. It seemed like he was now beginning to make errors, and they were ready to take advantage of that. For a moment it had seemed as though they had lost them, but the sound of a dog barking quickly put them back on the trail.

"Try to flank him!" one of them yelled. "We can't let him get away this time."

[Jack Lexington]

I know that Titus and Hammil have reassured me a couple of times that they have my back but if they don't do something quickly I will either become dog food or this stupid biest will put them right on my track. While the chain is holding the angrily barking biest back I dash off across the fence into the next yard.

The peace keepers are spreading out and circling the area that they beleive I'm in. One of them, a young female one, is on her first assignment ever. A little over eager she's pulling her gun from her holster but her colleague tells her. "Don't kill him if you spot him. We need him in the square."
Then he sends her off.

The fence is so hard to climb for me that I almost don't make it and slump down on the other side like a sack of flour with a heavy thud. The bushes I fell into have thick green leaves and cover me well but before I know what's going on there are footsteps coming closer. Panting I look up to see who it is and stare right into the face that's hidden behind a visor of a helmet. A peace keeper. A jolt of adrenalin rushes through every part of me. Instantly I struggle out of the greenery and away from her.

--
At home her mother and father are sitting together at the dining table holding their hands to support each other. In front of them is a note that only they could understand. "Went up the coast. Heard there's some big fish there. Tell Nitya we'll bring home a nice meal when we return."
With worry they hold on to that note when footsteps could be heard at the porch. Immediately both are on their feet and at the door where the enclose their daughter into their arms.
"What happened, Nitya?"