Recap: "There's only one place she could go".

Aurora had been in Mobilis for about two weeks and it already felt like home to her. She had spent the first few days looking over her shoulder looking for the scouts she knew the monster from her childhood would send for her. She knew they must be searching, it's why she prayed every morning she awoke that they wouldn't think to look for her here and with each passing day it felt like God was listening.

She wasn't stupid, she knew she would have to leave someday, it's why her bag was still packed. She knew she might have to do it in a hurry so she never made a connection with anyone, her face was always covered when she was out in public just like so many other women here. She was also dark-haired just like a lot of women in town so she wouldn't stand out. Even if they were actively searching for her, she knew or at least hoped her disguise would be adequate. She couldn't wear her chameleon skin for extended periods of time, the ability to do that came with age and great skill, both of which she didn't have yet. Stepping out of the shadow, she mixed with the afternoon crowd going to the border town below.

She found herself at the inn she had stayed at when she had first arrived. The harbor looked just as it did that night, dusty and dirty. She didn't need to go in to know that there would be an old man behind the front desk, probably sleeping. She smiled to herself then froze as familiar voices reached her ears. The voices came from inside and they were voices she had grown accustomed to hearing for the past few years. The voices belonged to Brian and Ilium Ambrose, Brian asked the man in that authoritative voice of his "have you seen a fairly young girl with black hair and green eyes come in here?". The innkeeper replied with the same croaky voice he had spoken to aurora with "Yes, she came in here about two weeks ago". "Are you just saying that because we promised you money", Illium asked? "No, my lord, I promise, she came here in the night, I think she was heading to Mobilis, she was very young, seemed afraid of even her own shadow". Brian and Ilium looked at each other and decided the man was speaking the truth.

Aurora didn't wait to hear what he might say or what they might do next, she took off and accidentally bumped into an empty storage can which drew the attention of the trio in the inn. Ilium ran out towards the noise but all he saw was a covered woman running away. He called out to his father and they gave chase but the moment they turned the corner and burst out on the main street, the running woman was lost to them. There were similarly covered women everywhere they turned and they were all in a hurry. They stopped a few of them but soon realized that Aurora had escaped them again.

Stolen story; please report.

Pulling out his phone, Brian dialed Acacius, "She's here in Mobilis", he said. "Do you have her?", Acacius asked to which Brian replied "She's escaped us again but at least now we know where to look" and hung up as he and Ilium headed back to the inn to see if the innkeeper could give them more information. Minutes later, they emerged with frowns on their faces, the innkeeper had nothing for them, all they could do now was wait for Acacius to arrive with more men and join forces to find the girl.

Aurora didn't stop moving until she was behind the gates of Mobilis, until then she hadn't allowed herself to breathe properly. She heaved a sigh of relief as she made her way to her temporary dwellings. She would have to leave tonight, now that the Ambroses had sighted her, the monster couldn't be far behind. She had to be out before they found the shack she had called home for the last two weeks. There was no telling what their intentions with her were but she would rather not stick around to find out.

Acacius arrived a few hours later, just before the sun set for the day, he met with Brian and Ilium right after settling his men. While the former welcomed him with indifference, Ilium looked towards him with anger brewing just under the surface. Acacius didn't have to wonder why; every time he had an encounter with the Ambroses, he always brought trouble to their door. It's why he had stayed away for so long but now he had no choice but to bring this trouble to their door. After all, the child had stayed with them for so long without them knowing what she meant to him.

Acacius shook his head as he told himself that wasn't the current problem. The current problem was how to find the girl, it would seem that the girl liked to play games and her preferred one was 'hide and seek'. Acacius would have loved to join in on the game but right now, he had to find her and take her back to the old crone. Only the old crone could explain what ties bound them and why he reacted to her the way he did.

"I bet she's trying to leave town right now", Ilium said which brought Acacius out of his thoughts. "That would be the smart thing and she has a history of running", Brian replied. Acacius nodded then looked up towards Brian with a crooked smile and said "I might have an idea". Brian knew he would not like any ideas his ward was getting at the moment but he had to ask anyway, "What is it".

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