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Wren and Sam breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped back into the orphanage. The walks to the mess hall were becoming brutal, with the winter wind blowing harshly now. Snow was expected at any time, which was just another reason for them to make their escape tonight.

Upon returning to their areas, the boys emptied their pockets of bread and cheese, stuffing them into the chests that sat by the beds. They had just a few minutes before Caretaker Edric walked in, his gaze colder than the winter breeze coming through the cracks in the floor. The children scampered to the front of the room, awaiting their daily tasks. Wren held his breath, hoping he wouldn't be assigned something outdoors.

"Sam and Wren," snapped Edric. "Sweep the stairwell of the orphanage."

A sigh of relief.

When the circle of children broke, Milly caught up with them in the lobby.

"Good news!" she said cheerily. "I've got linen duty. I know the kid whose there right now, and he's from an older group. I'll talk to him and see if he can get some warmer clothing."

Wren grinned, happy to see her, and even more happy to hear her news.

"That's great Milly, thanks!" Sam replied. "You remember that kid who gave us some food when we missed lunch, Tobar? Well, he's got a couple knapsacks stashed away. After supper I'm going to give him the rest of my coins for them."

So far, so good. All they had left to do was make it through supper, successfully sneak out, not get caught in the compound, and make it past the wall into the main city. Although they still haven't figured out exactly how to get out of the compound, as they couldn't just walk out the gate. Milly, who was going to meet with an older girl, said apparently the older kids knew a way to sneak back and forth, which they would use to smuggle in things to trade or sell.

The boys hiked up the four flights to the top floor of the orphanage, where the oldest kids were. Wren had no desire to linger here, in the off chance they came across any of the bullies. They quickly swept all the dirt and dust down the stairs, going from one landing to the next. It was taking longer than they liked, as the brooms they had were pathetic little tools, worn from years of use. By the time they made it to the ground floor, their stomachs rumbled. They chased the last few dust bunnies out of the corners, returned the brooms to the closet, and waited for the supper bell. Milly was already waiting for them. She gave a double thumbs up when they walked in.

"I have to go back for the last of the linen after supper, and I'll pick up the goods then. It cost me most of my coin, but he said It'll be worth it."

"Looks like everything should be taken care of nicely by tonight." Wren said.

Sam slugged his arm. "Don't jinx it man! honestly though, we really can't afford for this to go wrong."

Wren rubbed his arm as the Caretaker barged in. The bell was rung, the kids filed up, and off they marched to the mess hall.

"How you doin' sis?" Wren asked quietly, his sister walking beside him.

Lira looked up him, her blue eyes like two ocean colored saucers. She still didn't seem to be able to talk at all, and her behavior was still...off. At this point, the best Wren could hope for was that maybe she'd get better over time.

Once they reached the mess hall, Wren separated from his sister, sitting a couple kids away. He didn't want to risk anyone seeing the two of them sitting side by side, and notice how similar they looked.

The food tonight was actually not half bad. That, or maybe Wren was just getting used to it. Either way, he was happy to find a tiny shred of carrot floating in his stew.

A boisterous laugh was heard across the hall and Wren glanced over to see none other than Mason. The boys moppy red hair easily noticeable from where Wren sat. He had a slight limp, favoring the left leg. His right leg was noticeably stiff after Sam had smashed him with a hammer. He sauntered his way around the hall with a few other older kids, plucking food here and there from younger kids plates. Wren turned his attention back to his food and hunched over as the boy got close to his table.

Sam, sitting next to him, tensed as the bullies voice got closer.

"Well well well, look who I found."

Mason dropped a hand on Sams shoulder, causing him to spill a spoonful of soup.

"Come to apologize?" Wren said, pulling Mason's attention away from Sam.

"Ha! apologize? I should be thankin' you!" Smirked the bully. "I had a great time! kicked up inna soft bed, the nurses treatin' me real good. At least till they started freakin' out about some missin' brat."

Wren and Sam shared a quick glance.

"Plus the guard on duty and I are good pals. So yea, thanks for that little vacation!" Continued Mason.

His face darkened though, as he returned his attention back to Sam.

"You though, you should be apologizin' to me."

The boy sitting across from them pointed a fork at the bully.

"Come on man, stop bothering us. Go back to your own table."

Mason's eyebrows shot up, and he smacked one of his friends on the arm.

"You hearin' this? I get put up fer a couple days and now these rats think they can tell me what to do!"

He suddenly leaned forward, his face right next to Sam's ear.

"If you think yer gunna just get away with breakin' my knee, imma bout to ruin yer whole world."

Wren stood up, and to his surprise, so did Tobar, who was sitting on his other side, between him and Lira.

The boys all exchanged silent stares at each other for a moment, before Mason reached towards Tobar.

"Sit the hell down rat, no one asked for yer-"

He cut himself off as he looked past Tobar, staring instead into the wide deep blue eyes of Lira, who had turned to look at him. His eyes cut back and fourth between Wren and Lira, a look of genuine shock on his face.

A voice sounded from the other side of the table, drawing everyone's attention. Caretaker Edric was rapidly approaching.

"I said, what are you doing here, boy?" repeated Edric, shoving Mason away from the table.

"Get back to your group, and don't let me catch you over here again."

Mason stumbled off, his friends guiding him away. His head was turned over his shoulder, his eyes squinted, darting between Wren and Lira still.

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"Hurry up! I want everyone outside in two minutes!" The Caretaker shouted.

Wren look at Sam, alarm in his eyes. This was not good. Clearly, Mason was connecting the dots, if he hadn't already figured Lira was Wren's sister. It wasn't safe to assume he wouldn't put the pieces together completely, with what he said about his time in the infirmary.

As they filed outside, Milly bounded over to them, but her smile dropped when she saw their faces.

"What happened?" She asked gravely.

"Mason showed up. He got a good look at Lira, and I think..." Wren started.

"We think he's going to figure out she's the missing girl." Finished Sam.

Milly frowned. " I mean, that's defiantly bad, but that's not really a problem for us tonight, is it?"

"He also mentioned how he's close to one of the guards." Sam replied. "And knowing him, there's a pretty good chance he's going to say something."

The kids started their march back to the orphanage, the three of them silent in thought.

"Well hey," started Milly, keeping her voice low. "I do have more good news. According to the girl from the older group, there's a hole in the wall leading to the city. It's hidden by some thick bushes behind the stables!"

That did bring some relief to Wren. With that last bit of knowledge, all they had to do now was make the escape.

As soon as they got back inside, Milly disappeared down the stairs to the linen room, and Sam headed off to speak with Tobar. Wren followed Lira back to her area. The chest by her bed held only a single set of spare clothes. Packing her things should be quick.

"You ready to get out of here Lira?" He asked looking at her with concern.

She looked around their hall for a minute, then gave a single curt nod.

Sam walked over, two canvas knapsacks in his hands. Like everything else around here, they were a faded, worn out item. The material just short of wearing through completely in some places. He tossed one to Wren.

"I could only afford two, but I figured that wasn't really a problem."

"Thanks Sam, we really couldn't have gotten this far without you."

Sam gave a half smile and waved his hand in the air.

"You reminded me that I still have a choice in my life. I don't have to keep living like this."

Wren stuffed Lira's spare clothes into the sack, then headed over with Sam to begin packing their things. Milly popped up next to them, a ball of brown clothing in her arms.

"He was right when he said it would be worth it!" She dropped two on the ground, but kept holding on to one. It unfurled in her hand to reveal a cloak, thicker and better made than the ones they had been given for working in the infirmary. The cloaks were a little longer then their previous ones, falling to the top of Wrens foot. They looked almost like something he'd have worn in his time before all this.

Milly grinned seeing the boys' faces light up. "He said he got them from an older group of kids."

"Milly, this is great!" Wren said, reaching out and giving her a hug.

But when he pulled away, she wasn't smiling anymore.

"There's something else." Her voice lost it's pleasantness. "When I got back up to the lobby, Caretaker Edric was leading a Silverblood knight and a couple guards up stairs. he was taking them to go talk to the Head Caretaker."

Panic lanced through Wren.

"It was Mason! it had to be!" Sam said, struggling to keep his voice low.

"They have to be here for us, here for Lira. We have to go, now!" Wren stressed.

The boys quickly filled the packs with their belongings, then dashed over to Lira. She was sitting on her bed, staring across the room. Her eyes seemed to follow the movement of things Wren didn't see.

"Come on sis, it's time to go!" Wren grabbed her hand, but she hesitated. Her eyes flicked to him breifly, then returned to the spot in the room. Wren glanced in that direction, frowning. Seeing nothing, he knelt in front of her.

"Lira." He softly spoke. "Guards are here to take you away. We need to get out, right now." She finally faced him, and Wren thought he saw a flicker of sadness in those eyes. Finally, she nodded and rose from her bed.

Wren took her hand again ran to Sam and Milly, who waited by the last window at the end of the room. Milly cracked it open, letting the winter evening spill inside. The window opened up behind the orphanage, into a dark corner. Wren threw a cloak over his sisters shoulders, tying it around her neck before putting his own on.

"Out you go!" Milly said, dragging over a chair. Sam went out first, then caught the knapsacks as Wren tossed them through. He helped his sister through the window, then turned to Milly.

"Thank you so much Milly. You risked a lot doing this for us."

Milly shrugged, then leaned in and gave him a quick peak on his cheek. "Good luck Wren. Hopefully I see you guys around."

Wren's face burned as he stumbled out a goodbye, then he climbed through the window as she pulled the chair away.

Landing on the hard ground outside, Sam gave him a questioning look. Wren mumbled under his breath, then snatched the knapsack Sam held out for him. They heard the window close above them, and then they were alone.

Wren looked out into the darkness, towards where the stables were, and at the wall behind it. The idea of freedom called to him, pulling him. They took a few cautious steps around the side of the orphanage. There, waiting in the yard outside the front door, were two guards, sitting on horses. Three more riderless horses were nearby, one of them taller, sleeker, and wearing much more elegant tack than the others. Clearly, that one belonged to the knight. The trio carefully crept through the shadows, moving with painstaking slowness through the yard. Wren was concerned Lira might not understand what was happening, but she mimicked their attempt at stealth well enough. As they made their way towards an alley, Wren glanced back. Through the lit windows of the orphanage, he saw several adults walk through the hall they were in only minutes ago. He could see the gleaming white armor of the Silverblood even from here. Sam was right, they had come for them.

Wren turned back, looking into the darkness beyond. The call of freedom only slightly muted by the panic of their soon-to-be pursuers. He took a deep breath, then fell in step behind Lira, following Sam as he guided them into the labyrinth of alleyways.