After crashing through the window of her room - two stories high by the way - and somehow managing to get up, run past all the security systems in the place, and then into the city around them, running as far away as possible from Hideaway, Ash found herself out of breath, worn out by the turn of events.

She'd ended up in some kind of factory - how she really didn't know - her hands pressed against her knees and she sucked in as much air as she could hold. The place was huge. Mostly grey, and machine-filled, but no one was there, so she decided to take a break.

***

Apparently she'd fallen asleep sometime because she woke up, light streamed through the cracks and crevices of the building and machines that were previously turned off hummed to life. Her first thought was I gotta get out of here, then food. One problem at a time. She forgot how she'd gotten in, impressed in a creepy kind of way that she'd made it into there in the first place.

She spent an entire hour searching for her exit but didn't have to search past that, because the doors of the building were opened, men and women pouring in for work. She avoided them, hiding behind machinery and objects until she bolted out of the place.

When fresh air and sunlight both choked and blinded her, she took a step back in surprise, taking in oxygen and letting it fill her lungs completely. When she could see again, she looked around, amazed by the city she was in. The name of the city she didn't know, but at least she was still in America. Probably.

Skyscrapers and fancy blue towers so high she had to crane her neck to see the top, stood all around her, smaller buildings were scattered underneath them like ferns in a forest. She stood right outside an alleyway, out of view from the people that swarmed the city streets and sidewalks. Admiring the city only lasted a few seconds before her stomach growled, angry at her for using so much energy and not replacing it.

She sighed, squinting as she searched for any close restaurants. She felt like a wild animal, scrounging for food and shelter as she did her best to avoid people. She made it into the first restaurant she picked, a cute little brick building with few people around it. What was unlovable about the place to people, she didn't know.

She pushed through the doors, studying the inside as best as she could. It was not at all what she expected. The inside was dimly lit, with round wooden tables with - surprising her again - metal chairs. There was a long marble counter that stretched from wall to wall on her right, with a couple of bar stools placed in front of it, and the bathrooms were on the other side of the room, directly across from her.

But all this- it wasn't the weirdest thing. The weirdest thing was the people. Most of them were wearing armor with long capes of all colors, or what looked like fabric wrapped around normal clothes - like t-shirts and jeans - and all kinds of weapons. The odd thing was that everyone was wearing a cape of some sort. The person behind the counter wore similar clothes, but her's didn't look as much like she was prepared for war.

Ash assumed they'd ignore her, going on with their business as she started to turn to leave, but of course, the place surprised her again, everyone there stared at her. Everyone. She thought the place was quiet before everyone was staring at her, it'd gotten quieter somehow.

She pulled in a shaky breath as she forced a smile and a wave before turning on her heels. As she reached for the door handle, silently begging them to let her go, the waiter behind the counter stopped her.

"Wait. Turn around slowly."

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Ash obeyed, raising her hands in the air. All eyes were still on her, making her palms sweat and her hands shake. They looked at her as if she'd committed a really smart crime, and they were criminals. Her knees threatened to give way but she forced them not to. The waitress behind the counter inhaled.

"Is that a Hideaway shirt you have there?"

Ash instinctively glanced down at her shirt before returning her gaze to the woman. She had bright blue lipstick and ruby red hair pulled tightly into a fohawk.

Since the words wouldn't come, and her throat had dried, Ash just nodded.

"Did you steal it?"

She shook her head.

"Borrow it?"

Nope.

"Was it handed down to you?"

For the third time in a row, she shook her head no. The woman snorted, somewhat amused.

"Then the only explanation is that you're a runaway from Hideaway Homestead. Is that true?"

She nodded, encouraging another amused snort.

"What is it? Cat got your tongue?"

Ash was in mid-shake before she realized the mistake she was making and finally answered.

"No."

The room seemed taken back at her speaking, except for the woman, who just smiled.

"Welcome to the club, then. What's your name?"

"A-Ash. Smith. Ash Smith."

A few people - now that her eyes had adjusted to the darker lighting, she realized most the people there were around her age or teenagers - waved, small smiles on their faces.

"You must be hungry."

After a couple of plates of the best scrambled eggs, bacon, and cake she'd ever eaten, Ash relaxed a bit, slumping in her seat on the barstool. The woman, whose name, apparently, was Ruby - a title she'd gotten from her friends at the restaurant - was much nicer than Ash would've guessed just by looking at her,

Ash was surprised for the umpteenth time by the place when Ruby told her that everyone there was what Grean called a Link. She said Grean had welcomed most of them to Hideaway, letting them stay there with him for years - as long as they wanted in fact.

"What happened?"

"Well think about it, why did you run?"

That wasn't a reason she was sure about or proud of.

"Anyway, the main reason is because of-"

Ruby was cut off as the doors of the place were flung open. At first, the residents seemed startled at the loud noise, but when they saw who it was, they turned back to their business for some reason.

A young man walked into the place with more confidence than Ash thought healthy. He had a freckled face - very light-colored freckles - with strawberry blonde hair, it had a lot of red and brown in it on the lower part of his head though, and piercing green eyes. He wore the same thing as everyone else did - his own version of it. There was a long piece of fabric wrapped around his upper torso in an X shape, nice grey pants that were tucked into brown boots with gold accents. And, of course, a cape. It was a dark tan color, and it flowed behind him majestically as he walked up to the counter.

He smiled at Ash in a mischievous way, as if he'd just blown something up and was refusing to tell her - she didn't put it out of the question - before taking a seat near her and sliding a plethora of small objects across the counter.

"I'm guessing I'll have to pay for the newbie, huh?"

"Not have to, get to," Ruby smiled as she slid the small pile off the counter into her hand before putting it into some drawer or something. Ash was swept away with the sight of him, but the second time he smirked at her, she turned in her seat, shoving any respect - or whatever sort of crush she had on him - deep, deep down.

I'm sure all the other girls act like this around him. I, however, will not.

She could see him in the corner of her eye, the same mischievous smirk on his face. Ruby didn't look up as she said, "Ash, this is Kerem. Kerem, Ash."

Ash was tempted to sneak a glance then return to her ignoring, but she chided herself, turning to him, and looking him dead in the eye like the mature, normal adult she was. She hoped he couldn't see her blushing in the dim light - that, she couldn't shove away somewhere.

He tilted his head ever-so-slightly, visibly curious about her . . . bravery? She didn't act like the other girls, and he noticed.

"So, what's your story, newbie?"

"It's Ash, try to listen. And I'm certainly not telling you."

She didn't mean to sound rude, but she felt a guilty twinge of joy that she wasn't succumbing to his looks. He laughed a bubbly and yet smooth sound that made her smile.

"Okay then! Will you at least tell me what you're doing here?"

"Hiding from Grean, I'd say," Ash glanced at Ruby, who was now cleaning a glass with a smirk.

"Um . . ." suddenly, Finn popped into her head, and emotions clouded her vision.