Her eyes were red, they gleamed clearly even in this pouring rain. The girl was gazing off into the distance of the rainy marketplace.

Although they were a few ways from where we were, Jack still needed to do what he had to.

Did I want to go and help her, but alone? I grabbed onto the robes that I had been wearing, although they were a bit wet from the rain, the rest kept me dry as I was wearing it in layers.

How would I ever even think about helping anyone alone? I barely even know the streets as a matter of fact, and I've only been around for a while.

There again I still questioned after myself. Would I be able to? I closed my eyes, in a form of calming my thoughts, I felt that if I had to keep thinking it would only overstress my mind and I would eventually get nowhere.

'You can... if you wanted to....'

Upon those words uttered in my own head, I flinched.

The vibration from hearing it made me shudder, not because it was a distinct voice I have never heard, but because even the smallest amount of even being able to hear something, with no one around, makes me think I'd be going insane.

What I had heard though, sounded coarse, and low. In fact, it seemed like it wasn't a voice but just a sound in a specific fashion allowing me to hear it in words.

I felt too unsure about all this coming at once, but as I slowly started to come to the now that I am I began to notice that I had lost Jack.

He went ahead of me, and I was supposed to be trailing behind him, I guess thinking too much just got the better of me in this situation

I thought about going into the stores, but then I found a problem that would arise if I did. Like if I fled into the stores one by one to see if he was inside, and there are some stalls around too. However, if I did go around like that and I miss him on the street, then what?

Should I go back to the mansion? But then do I even remember the way back there?

Thoughts of solutions and then problems overpowering those actions soon enough bagged me, I eventually just came to a halt with all this thinking.

Even If people considered me smart or if I had the smarts, decisions or choices made rely on the total outcome of the situation, everyone knows that, if I get lost here? Anything, can or will happen.

I looked at my E.I. Bracer and thought to myself. 'if he knew how to use this thing, and I got lost, could he find me?' That guy probably would. Saying that put a slight smile to my face. Yeah, thinking back at it, he would.

I glanced around just once more, this time, I noticed that the three guys with that one girl were on the move.

I had to come up to a decision. I wanted to help the girl, but if I did, I will definitely run the risk of getting lost in this city. Because who knows what can happen to a kid like me, right?

Still though.

If I help her, then what?

'Go. Ahead.' 

S... S... S...

In the midst of the rainy, cloudy day. A loud and pressing boom had burst in the wake of an alarm that had already been going off for some time in a facility.

Glancing back towards a destroyed and detached building, this was the Military State establishment that had been run by the well-known scientist that goes by the casual name of Marshall. Just Marshall.

Suddenly, upon the clearing of smoke, a pale-skinned boy, with spiked out hair, turquoise eyes, and an unholy smile had Loomed from it. "Finally, Freedom," he said.

But as he was just about to head off, a very aggressive Marshall had trailed quickly after him.

"You brat! You either get back here, or I'll make you wash the dispenser for a week" Snarled Marshall.

His white coat fluttered by the wind.

"Sorry, but I didn't have my breakfast the way I wanted today, I wanted the glory of being able to see the light again, not lashes, or the fun time punishments we would gladly have" A chuckle that could only give chills emanated from the chaotic boy.

Marshall had a discontented expression plastered onto his face. He wanted him to calm down, but to the efforts that he had always tried nothing ever seemed to work, and it felt like it was only a few days since they brought him in.

"That was no way to treat the others though, and you know it, I know you can be bett-"

"I don't want to hear it!" The boy snarled.

He glared at Marshall with hostility and anger. His eyes were filled with longing wrath that had appeared like he would blow up everything to pieces.

He clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth, his gaze was completely pinpointing Marshall.

The boy standing before Marshall in a wrathful manner was known very well as Zero in this establishment. He was considered a very "Special" boy.

"Zero," repeated Marshall with a clear and confident voice. He was about to speak again, he opened his mouth, but after a few seconds, he had closed it again.

He then put his hand in his pockets.

Marshall had given it some thought, but eventually, it would be the only way to stop this. "You know what this means right? This has been the third time, I can't allow this to continue happening any longer Zero"

Zero still said nothing, but he rose his hand up and held his open palm towards him.

"Unless you want to die, similarly just like that stupid girl almost did, then by all means.." His smile widened then again but cracked up more twisted than before.

"Try me"

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Marshall did not move an inch. But still held the same frustrated expression. With no surprise to the matter at hand Marshall still kept his ground.

"Ya' know, You can leave now, but they will be after you the second you leave, and you don't know a single thing about that world out there"

Attempting to convince him to stay, luck this time around, was not on Marshall's side.

The old Scientist had rummaged through his pockets and pulled something out of his pockets smoothly and swiftly.

Without even a warning, the scheming Zero had launched an attack, and a whole burst of wind pressure had bolted past the Scientist in an amazing few seconds.

With the attack, the smoke that had arisen from the facility because of the bomb had diminished, and finally, the rain had stopped pouring.

Stretching his neck, Marshall's lackluster movement showed that he was tired of this whole situation and finally gave up. "Kid, yer' really starting to piss me off" he voiced out.

Rought toned, Marshall began to change his choices of actions.

In his hands, he took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

While covering up a lighter with his hands and lighting up a smoke, then putting away the pack of cigarettes and lighter back into his pockets, His Gaze had shifted onto Zero.

"If it doesn't go right, it has to go left" Calmly speaking, With one puff of smoke, He stepped forward.

S...S...S...

"So that's it huh?"

In these vendors palms, he held paper money that held a certain value."What do you mean that's it? I gave you what you asked for"

"And still the same problem with the same E.I Bracer?" Asked the vendor questioningly.

"Yes," Said Helck.

"Very well, let me have a look at it, I'm hoping its not the model unless it would be problematic"

This small group had left the apartment room they had held the girl as a hostage in. This was Helck's little hostage group.

Although unfortunate was the moment had where Helcks E.I Bracer had been malfunctioning, fortunate was that moment of where Jay had gotten away from what he was plotting.

The three that were back in the room had been figuring out how they would do the whole ordeal. It all happened when there had been a "Bzzt" sound of the fizzling E.I bracer, plainly indicating that the old machine was having a power supply issue.

And as the three had no way of communicating with the specific people to help aid them in the hostage takeover plan that they had summed up, the three had to go out to one of the vendors that could help them.

These vendors usually charge for the specific versatial volt or sytopial Colt, But among the vendors out on Birchten Marketplace, the old Paper cash would do the trick to satisfy them, since out on the edge of the districts many people use money as the currency around there, not many people have economic gains there, and E.I. Benefits don't exist for them either.

With the fact Jay hadn't much to do, he had offered the other two to keep watch of the girl, and them knowing that the girl can't be watched by all of them agreed. Jay had a plan to let this girl loose because he wasn't the type to see this and let it slip by. 

Jay was just a regular guy looking for work anywhere there was, however, unlike the many, his ties to other places make him more than exceptional, but his justifying characteristics are what make him Jay. 

Alas while the other two were looking around at other stuff while it was going to take a bit for the vendor to figure out the problem with Helcks E.I Bracer, Jay decided to go to a certain spot to shield the girl from the rain under a shade sail that covered over a majority of small vendors out on the side streets. 

The girl was slightly shivering she was gazing off into the sky though not really paying attention to anything, were it not for the mantle that she had on, she would be freezing. 

Jay looked around to see if there was anyone around close enough to possibly listen into what he was to say. Only a few people were around, not close enough to hear him, and Helck and the other guy were just looking around for other stuff in the market, killing time just for the vendor. 

Jay glanced back and forth from the girl and to the streets trying to clear the view of anyone incoming. Upon considering that it was all clear, he tried speaking to the girl. 

He knelt down closer to the girl, but the girl absentmindedly watched the sky as the rain kept pouring down. 

"Hey there" He spoke with a soft voice, as to not scare the girl in any form. 

However, flinching, the girl heard his voice and took her out of her spaced out mood from looking at the sky. 

Anxiously, the girl turned around, her eyes were a bright red, and reflected the light sources coming from the banners within this small area.

"So... Tell me, what is your name?" To her face, a smiling Jay had greeted her. 

That girl didn't speak, she grabbed his hand and wrote characters slowly so that he could understand what she was trying to do. 

It appeared to him that she couldn't speak. 

When Jay understood what she was putting together with her gestures, he voices out her name. 

"Ruby?" Questioningly speaking, his deference towards her because although she couldn't speak she still was able to tell him. 

She has either lost her voice, has had problems with her own throat, or other reasons could be that she couldn't speak in any form or way. 

Taking a watch of the area yet again, he continued.

"That key I gave you, was not the key for the apartment, but the key for these shackles that they used to chain you up with me, but when I tell you, you will use the key to unlock these shackles and run". 

Jay, of course, had thought of a plan beforehand, he didn't trust Helck to give the girl back easily. Knowing the aggressive attitude that he knew Helck had towards the government and many of those with the money, of course, he wouldn't. 

So Jay had pondered on a solution ever since, and quite the thinker that he is, he found his end plan. 

"I will signal you when to use it with my hands, and when the time comes, I will yawn just like this, understand?" As he said, he acted out what he had told the girl in that manner, with his arms pulling up over his head. 

He smiled and nodded once to see if the girl had understood or comprehended what exactly he meant, and to no surprise, the girl followed with a small smile and a nod. 

The hoodie she wore shook with her small nodding. 

However, without noticing, Helck was coming to them with his a different E.I bracer then that of what he had. 

Helck in his own time though asked the vendor to instead of repairing the old E.I. Bracer, to give him a new one with all the transferred information. Knowing the repairs would take longer of course.

Upon approaching with the other unnamed individual in the group, both noticed Jay speaking with the girl. 

Helck, as he came closer, he saw what had happened, and he was not happy.

"Hey, what the hell do you think you are doing? I thought you only agreed to take the girl just to watch her, not to keep her company" He glared at Jay, thinking any little detail could derail the whole situation. If the hostage learns of any of them, and she gets away or if something happens, the risk would be involved. 

Helck would have done anything to avoid attention, and greatly from the man he had made a deal with. 

Seeing as how he would have been caught Jay had let no single expression leak from his face. 

"Helck, I got some information, more than you could think, I was able to get this brat to speak" with an immediate change of attitude, Jay responded in with vice and avaricious means. 

He looked at Helck with pride and confidence, giving Helck a smile like no other person. A wicked aura raised Helcks awareness and rattled the atmosphere for more than a few seconds on the specific matter at hand. 

Helck saw this, and it almost gave him goosebumps on his forearms.

Reeling closer to Helck closer to his ear, he whispered something. Details that only made the eyes of Helck widen. Plastering slowly onto his face was a smile, of glee and gain. 

Jay knew how the mind of this man worked and made it work for himself. A schemer like no other had finally stepped up. A plan was in play, the first step had only just begun. 

The plan he held in his hands had a much bigger meaning, but soon enough time would only tell of what would happen. 

Taken aback from the statements that Jay had instilled in the mind of Helck, he turned around. and walked on with a smile. 

"Come on then, let's get going, we have a feast to get to" With a smile on his face, and swift steps, Helck lead the group on, while behind him trailed the group and jay with the girl as the last.

The girl confused at the change of action Helck had displayed had looked at Jay in bewilderment of what he had caused.  

And with a quick glance from jay, he put his index finger on his lips with a small smile. Watching back at the smiling jay, she copied and smiled with bare teeth. 

 S.S.S