Escape

Ryker

*A/N: Hey guys! Arilioness here! Sorry for not updating, my swim team and such is really taking my time and my first year of high school as well. So here it is! I'll update when I can, but I cannot make any average update guarantees. Ciao!*

I made it. I'm free. I don't know how I made it out without anyone noticing, especially with my sign, but I did. For the second time. Sunset comes with me as I escape. And I'm determined to stay free. I run, feet pounding on the dead grass. Nothing grows near the Imperium Society headquarters. I keep sprinting on the dirt road, toward town. My name is Ryker. Ryker Sander. I am eighteen. And I tried to escape once before this. Don't let me go back.

I finally made it to the city. I glance back. Nobody saw me. I made it. I escaped for real. Now, how will I live? How will I survive? I walk around, looking for anyone who might show me mercy. I finally stop against the wall, exhausted. Night is almost upon me, hardly anyone is around, and the street lights are on. I glance down at my dog tag. One one side is R. Sander and a series of numbers, my code number, and on the other side, is a bar code, and under it one tick mark. I don't want to take it off. It reminds me of the hell I will destroy, and save everyone from.

I sit against the brick of the building, and groan from the exertion. I actually made it. How, I have no idea. But I did. And I will not go back. I will die if they catch me. So I need to find someone who will take me in. "Ma'am. Will you help me? I came from down south, can you let me stay?" I ask a random business woman. She looks at me like I'm insane. To her I probably am. I glance at the reflection of a window. My eyes widen in shock. Red hair matted, eyes weary, clothes ragged and ripped.

No wonder she thought I was insane. And she probably didn't know what I was talking about, judging by the look on her face. I keep asking people to help me, but they're all older adults and don't know what it is. I finally see a young girl about my age. Beach blonde hair pulled into a side braid, very tall, and cold, grey eyes. She scans around. She's wearing black leggings, combat boots, and a grey tank top with a black splotch. A moon locket is around her throat and earrings with a sapphire gem and angel wings flowing from them.

She's very rough and tumble. Maybe I can ask her. "Excuse me. But can you help me?" I ask. Her head tilts to one side.

"Depends on what. What do you need help for?" She asks, taking in my ragged appearance. She's analytical, considering how her stare judges me, taking in my appearance, my looks, and probably my strengths and weaknesses.

"I escaped from the Imperium. Can you help me find a place to stay?" I ask. She lets out a small gasp, and covers her mouth. Her eyes widen for a moment.

Then her face goes back to normal, as though nothing happens. "Oh my god. Another escapee. Come with me." She says, motioning. I follow her, unsure. Why am I going with this random girl I don't know. It's something in her eyes, and expression. She knows, and she's going to help me. "Can you tell me your name?" She asks, not looking back. I pause for a moment, debating. "Well?" She demands, turning back, her grey eyes staring at me again.

"Ryker. Sander is the last name. Are you going to tell me yours?" I ask back, but I don't think she'll give it to me. Pathetic me. Her eyes narrow.

"No. Not yet. Maybe never. We'll see on what he says." She states vaguely. Who's he?

We arrive at a crappy building. The paint on the entrance looks as if it's been there for decades and rust convers anything metal. "Come on." She motions with her hand. Climbing up some metal fire escape stairs, we arrive at a cheap, crappy apartment. She opens the window and crawls in, gesturing for me to follow suit. The window leads into a small kitchen with a wall that juts out. I follow her past the wall and into a small room with a couple chairs and a couch. I obey as she sits, again making a move at the chair next to her. I listen again. Why am I trusting her still? She could kill me. "You escaped. How?" She asks, trying to get facts.

"I snuck out a sunset, knowing that everyone would be getting ready for bed. So I snuck out as the crowd was going.

"Nobody noticed. And I made it here. What about you?" I ask. Her eyes fix themselves onto me in a glare. I shouldn't have said that.

"None of your business. Now, back off, rest. I'll get some food." She states, like a robot. Once she comes back, a large pile of food in her hands, she sets it down and pushes it toward me. "Eat. You need it." She states. I wolf down the food, as she watches, curious, and obviously deep in thought.

I glance up once, and see a long, medium length line across her collarbone. "How did you get that?" I ask in between bites.

"Didn't I tell you mind your business?" She snaps back. I raise my hands for a moment in defense. That doesn't last long for the food calls to me again.

"Then can you tell me your name?" I ask again, hoping to get results. She rolls her grey eyes.

"No. You're going insane. Asking and doing the same thing and expecting different results. I swear." She mutters.

"Then can you tell me who he is?" I ask again. She looks sidelong at me. It strikes me as pretty, but deadly. Wait what?

"No. Not unless he wants me to, and how should I know if he does? I'm not him. He'll be home soon." All the food finished, she takes and it throws it away, and sits back down relaxing, her brows furrowed. She's always thinking by the looks of it.

"Want to tell me what's going on?" I ask, hoping I get somewhere. She looks over again, taking in my appearance.

"Let me see that dog tag." She says, avoiding the question. I hand it over. "Weird." She slides it back over. The girl straightens suddenly.

"I'm home!" A voice shouts. Her eyebrows knit together. The girl smirks for a moment.

"You want to know who he is? This is the he I was talking about." She says. Then "He" enters into my field of vision. Tall, black hair, almost manic blue eyes that seem calm.

That changes in an instant. "Hi." The girl says shyly, knowing something I don't. The man's eyes darken. His head swings to me.