Amarie and Hiroshi are walking through the city of Taikal with black masks covering the bottom half of their faces, looking down, hoping no one recognizes them.
Hiroshi: Keep your head down and don't make eye contact
Without anyone noticing, they make a turn into the back alley
Amarie: His house is the next block over. If we go this way[points] I should be able to sneak in through the window.
They both continue to sneak through the alley only to come across a small, worn-down home. Going through the back, Amarie climbs up on top of a dumpster which allows her to gain access to the top, back window.
Amarie:[smirk] Sveinn's room.
She lightly taps on the window.
The light turns on. A tall figure comes over and opens the window.
Sveinn: [Yawns] Wha-what's going on?
Amarie: [excited] Hey Sveinn!
Sveinn: Amarie? What's going on[worried and anxious] why are you here? [looks around] How'd you even get here? Aren't you supposed to be hiding out on the other side of town?
Amarie pushes him to the side and climbs into his room and starts looking around for anything that might be useful and puts it in her bag
Amarie: mhmm yeah, those are all good questions, but I don't have a lot of time
Sveinn: Amarie, just tell me what's going on
Amarie:[stops and looks at Sveinn] I need to get out of Taikal. It's time I've stopped running away, hiding in the shadows. This world, this system we're a part of, it needs to change...
Sveinn looks both concerned and confused. Amarie sighs
Amarie: Look, you're my only friend and I know how much you hate this system. Everyday, low ranks are punished and killed for no reason. [Looks out the window] I'm gonna stop it [turns to look at Sveinn] but I can't do it alone, I need your help. I need my friend.
Sveinn: and how do you exactly plan to do that?
Amarie: [frowns] I'm not sure yet, but I can't do it alone. Come with me, and Hiroshi.
Sveinn: [Sad] but what about my family? I can't just leave them
Amarie: Your dad is a mid-rank, right?
Sveinn: Barely, he's a rank 4
Amarie: Then they'll be fine. The authorities won't bother them...as long as they do nothing bad...
Look it's now or never. Every day they punish and kill people because they were born with a weaker ability. It isn't right. You and I both know that.
Sveinn: [faint smile] ok...there's nothing for me in this city anyway. I thought when I turned 18, I would get stronger [disappointed] but I'm still a 2.3. With my rank, I'll never get to go to college, get a job, have a good life[looks down in sorrow] -[hopeful] but maybe things can change. Give me until morning. I at least want to tell them where I'm going.
Amarie:[Smiles] Sounds good. Hiroshi and I will be waiting out back.
-7:00 AM-
Sveinn starts sneaking out the window
Amarie: [shouting] Why are you sneaking out the window?
Sveinn: [startled] AHHH [falls onto the ground] Shhhh. I told my parents buuuuut... they didn't exactly take it well. They still think I'm in my room.[sighs] I hate leaving like this, but it's for the best. Let's go.
Hiroshi, Amarie, and Sveinn are the back alley looking at a map of Etro
Amarie: The police have control of the harbor so there's no way to sneak out by boat. The only way out is to take[points] this road out of Taikal
Sveinn: -but Amarie we'll never make it past security there
Amarie: There's no other way out. [pondering] trucks are constantly going in and out of the city. We'll sneak onto one of them. If we leave now, we'll be able to get there by nightfall.
Hiroshi: Then what are we waiting for? Let's get going.
The three of them are on top of an empty building close to the security gate. Amarie is looking through some cheap binoculars she got from Sveinn's room. She spots a large truck that seems to be covering something up with a tarp.
Amarie: [points] That one, there
Sveinn: Are you sure?
Amarie: It's the only one we can sneak onto. If we get down there now, we'll be able to catch it and sneak on right after it's been checked.
Sveinn: ...alright
Amarie, Sveinn, and Hiroshi start sneaking through old boxcars that have been abandoned at the gate. They spot the truck they saw earlier about to leave the gate
Amarie: [whisper] C'mon. We have to hurry
Amarie and Sveinn successfully hide under the tarp. Just as Hiroshi is about to jump in, a security guard spots him.
Guard: Hey! You there, stop!
Hiroshi: [Looking at Sveinn and Amarie] You two, go on without me. If I go with you now, they'll get all of us.
Amarie: Hiroshi, no. You can't stay behind. Please. Don't do this. [starts tearing up] I need you!
Hiroshi: Amarie, it's up to you now. With or without an ability, you are stronger than anyone. Show the world, that people are more than their abilities. Show them how to treat everyone with kindness and compassion. Show them how to love.
Hiroshi grabs Amarie's hands and kisses her forehead. He then pulls the tarp over Sveinn and Amarie and walks toward the security guard with his hands in the air. Amarie, still in shock, holds her breath to keep her from crying as she tries to listen for any gunshots or ability use. Nothing.
The truck starts moving. After about 30 seconds, Amarie releases her breath and allows the tears that she had been holding back to fall down her face. Sveinn pulls her head into his chest and puts an arm around her.
Sveinn: It-it'll be okay, We'll figure something out.
We should both try to get some sleep. We'll be in Meihei in a few hours and we need to sneak off this truck before anyone sees us.
Amarie nods her head and buries her head into his chest. The two of them remain silent the rest of the way there. The only sound that can be heard is the faint roaring of the engine.
-end-