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Ash

After being kindly treated to her wrist burns - as well as the strangers could help them - Ash was given a new pair of clothes - a bright blue t-shirt with two lines down the middle (one thicker than the other) and tiny words written on the sleeve. The sleeve read Hideaway homestead; Ash Smith. and a pair of jeans.

She wanted to put them on immediately but the person who attended her told her to wait - informing her that she couldn't currently walk. The 'nurse's name was Jenna - she was about forty or fifty, with a kind smile and long black hair that had been braided. She pressed behind her ear, nodding at the tiny voice that came through. Her normally cheerful face was gone as she scrunched her lips to the side.

"Looks like you're going to be pretty tired because your Link kindly wasted a bunch of energy trying to get away from Albert."

"My Link . . . you mean Finn? He's alright? He's here? Where is he and when can I see him?"

Jenna smiled, almost pitifully, before helping Ash into a wheelchair and taking her down the hall. She explained as they went.

"This is the girls' side of the bedroom section, but just through that door and across the stairs is the boys'. Apparently your Link is talking with Grean at this moment. Grean, by the way, is the well . . . director, I guess. He owns the place and does a lot here. Oh, and a Link is the person you're linked to - physically."

Ash smiled, nodding so that Jenna could tell she was listening, but secretly she felt embarrassed about riding in a wheelchair and wished she could just walk like a normal person. They left the hallway, entering an open space, and traveling across the stop at a massive set of fancy wooden stairs. Different people - all around Ash's age or younger - walked around the place, reading or talking or hurrying to get somewhere. Thankfully, they were all too busy to notice Ash being wheeled across the break at the stairs.

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Jenna led her through another room and then down a ramp, taking them through a plethora of doors and rooms until they ended up at - what Jenna explained was - the kitchen.

Finn was sitting in his own wheelchair, talking to Grean. It surprised Ash to see him, she'd already forgotten that Jenna had mentioned him. Finn was munching on some delicious looking food when Jenna wheeled her into the room. The moment Finn saw her, his eyes twinkled and he grinned. Something fluttered in her stomach when he smiled at her.

Without thinking about it, she stood - he did the same - and they both hugged each other. For some reason, it felt like it'd been forever since she'd seen him, and the weird crow dream somehow made him seem far away. They both only noticed what'd happened when Jenna gapsed in surprise.

There they both were, standing on their own two feet again - no wheelchair necessary.

Grean's smiled faded and a look of wonder took its place.

"Students don't normally walk until . . . it doesn't matter! I'm so glad you're both well again!"

Drawing attention to the fact that they were standing made Ash's knees wobble, but Finn held her arm, making her stable.

There was an awkward moment of silence before Jenna spoke.

"Well, I think you both might be starving! How about some food?"

Two minutes later they were both sitting at the small table, munching on the best bread Ash had ever tasted. Grean sat with them, gazing at random objects as he fell lost in thought.

Ash pulled him out of his stupor.

"Grean, this place is called Hideaway Homestead, isn't it?"

"Yes, my dear! But the caches like to call it Hideaway - no homestead necessary."

Finn was wearing a smile, but it faded and he looked down at the table.

"What about our parents, or friends - I mean, won't they come looking for us?"

Grean shook his head sadly.

"I wanted to wait to give you the news, but I suppose I must tell you now," a dark shadow passed over his face. "Your parents and friends . . . they think you're dead."