-4:00 A.M- Location: Meihei City
Sveinn wakes up with Amarie's head on his chest. His shirt is wet from her tears. Amarie is sound asleep, which surprises Sveinn after what happened at the gate in Taikal. The truck is still moving, but Sveinn can tell it'll stop soon from being able to see the brightness of the city lights through the tarp.
Sveinn: [whisper] Hey, Amarie. You need to wake up. We'll need to get off soon.
[concerned] Amarie?
Amarie bats her eyes open slowly. It takes her a moment to process everything. She starts to remember everything that has happened in the past 12 hours.
Amarie[sad and groggy] I'm awake.
Sveinn: We need to get off of the truck. It's still early so there shouldn't be anyone in the streets. We'll get off the next time the truck stops.
Amarie: mmmm....ok
The truck starts to slow down. Sveinn peaks out from under the tarp to see if anyone is on the streets. Not a soul in sight.
Sveinn: All clear. Let's go.
The truck comes to a complete stop as Amarie and Sveinn jump out of the trunk. They quickly run to the sidewalk. Keeping their heads low, they try to find an alley where they can rest and hide.
Sveinn: [points] Over there. We'll hide in that alley
Sveinn starts walking but notices Amarie is not next to him. He turns around to find Amarie standing, head down, with a gloomy look across her face. Sveinn sighs, grabs her by the wrist, and pulls her along as he heads toward the alley.
Once they reach the alley, Sveinn notices that someone has set up a small camp that consists of a large cardboard box, a few cans of food, and a ripped blanket, all surrounded by a weirdly shaped puddle.
Sveinn: [sitting down] We'll rest here for a few minutes and come up with a plan, ok?
Amarie, it'll be ok. Right now we need to focus on how to survive in this city. Once we do that, we'll show people that we are more than our abilities.
Amarie: ...alright...It just seems so...unreal.
Amarie looks down at the small campsite
Amarie: This is weird. All this stuff is laying around, but there isn't anyone here.
Sveinn: We should be careful. Whoever lives here could come back at any time.
Amarie starts to walk toward Sveinn when the water from the puddle starts to wrap around her ankle.
Amarie:[freaking out] Wha-what's going on.
Sveinn:[activating ability] We're not alone.
Sveinn spots a shadowy figure in the distance. He raises his arm and shoots an energy blast at the figure, but misses. The water from the puddle shoots up and traps both Amarie and Sveinn. The figure shows itself and stands in front of them.
Figure: What do you think you're doing? You can't just take someone else's stuff. [snide]Rude.
Amarie: We didn't mean to. We didn't know. We're not from around here.
Figure: uh yeah, obviously.
Amarie: We'll leave you alone. I promise, Can you please just let us go?
The figure unclenches their hand, and the water that trapped Amarie and Sveinn falls to the ground.
Amarie: [relieved]Thank you.
Figure: Yeah, whatever.
Amarie: Water manipulation? Shouldn't that make you at least a rank 6? What is someone like you doing out here?
Figure:[defensive] I don't have to explain myself to low ranks like you.
Amarie: [calm] I understand, you don't have to tell us anything [pause]
I'm Amarie by the way.
Figure: [looking down and away] ...Demir
Demir: ... I guess you guys can stay here for a little while, but stay quiet...and don't touch my stuff.
Amarie: Thank you, Demir.
Amarie, in a slightly better mood, turns to look at Sveinn who is still in shock, and slightly blushing. Amarie chuckles silently to herself. She walks away from Sveinn and sits down next to Demir.
Amarie: So, Demir,[her eyes start faintly glowing] how'd you end up here?
Demir[looking down] My family is one of the richest families in Meihei. Both of my parents are rank 8. They expected me to be just as strong as them since, you know, water manipulation and all, but even with all the training they gave me, I'm stuck at rank 3...
Amarie: [eyes stop glowing] oh.
Demir: They kicked me out of their high-class life and left me in the streets to fend for myself...[sad] their own child. Just because I couldn't get stronger.
Amarie: I understand. I always assumed that's what happened to me. I was abandoned as a baby. Born without an ability. It seems that all anyone seems to care about is power these days.
Demir: No ability? How are you still alive? I thought Putrum ordered all no ranks to be killed.
Amarie: They almost got me, but then...Hiroshi...he saved me.
But I'm done hiding. I came to Meihei to bring change. To show everyone that even though we're not as strong, low ranks deserve equal opportunity in this world.
[Brief moment of silence]
Amarie: Hey! Why don't you join us? We could use another person on our team. Especially someone like you.
Demir: [confused] Like me? What is that supposed to mean? Is this because I'm non-binary?
Amarie: uhhh...no? [points to their hands] Water manipulation?
Demir: ohhhhhh....yeah that makes more sense. I guess I'll join you guys. It beats living in this cardboard box. Plus,[grins and winks] your friend there is kinda cute.
Amarie:[chuckles] I think you'll like him.
[loud but not shouting] Hey Sveinn, Come over here!
Sveinn shyly walks over, still blushing, and sits down. The three of them are sitting together, sharing stories, and getting to know one another as the sun starts to rise and the city of Meihei begins to wake up.
-end-