Ulqora: "You're... you're lying. This is a lie. Take me to Joseph!"
Arnold: "Are you..."
Kassius nods his head with a disappointed look on his face.
Arnold: "Alright. Ulqora, I'm-"
Ulqora: "You're trying to take me away, like them."
Arnold: "No. I'm trying to help."
Ulqora: "Leave me alone!"
Tears start to drop and she starts running away towards the forest.
Arnold: "I-
Arnold freezes as a loop of his sister's words plays in his head. "Leave me alone" rings through his brain and Arnold grabs his head in pain. He falls to his knees and he starts to cry.
Arnold: "Why again? Why can't I help when it matters most?"
Kassius stands there silent and doesn't move an inch.
Arnold: "Everytime I try to help, I just screw it up. I wasn't there for my sister and now... I can't even help a little girl who is suffering for just living. What kind of person am I?"
Arnold's hands hit the floor and tears start flooding out. One by one, they drip on the floor and a small breeze blows by through the empty street.
Arnold: "Why... Why?... Why!"
Kassius: "It was just her time. It's a normal thing Arnold."
Arnold: "What?"
Kassius: "People die. We have to accept it sooner or later."
Arnold: "Stop it..."
Kassius: "Why should I? I'm just saying the truth. She is dead and you can't bring her back to life."
Arnold: "Stop it!"
Arnold stands up and hits Kassius in the face, turning his face to the side as blood gushes out his mouth. Kassius spits on the floor and faces back to him.
Kassius: "Is that it?"
Arnold gets even angrier and punches Kassius in his gut, and then in his face sending him to the floor. Arnold gets on top of him and starts punching. Left. Right. He connects until he getd exhausted. Kassius, though struggling to move his head, turns to Arnold.
Arnold: "You have no clue what I've gone through. You have something else to say?"
Kassius: "Y... yeah. Is this... what she wanted you to become?"
Arnold: "..."
Kassius: "A man who holds onto the past. A man who won't grow past his experiences and become a better person. A man full of anger. Full of rage. But what do I know right since I haven't been through what you have. You think my words are meaningless. Well, let me wake you up to reality Arnold."
Kassius punches him and sends Arnold off him onto the side. As Arnold sits on the floor holding his cheek, Kassius stands up, dusts himself off and readjusts his tie.
Kassius: "I can tell from your eyes. Filled with sadness, you try to hide it but you can't. I used to be the same. It's when I learned to accept the past and move on did I understand the truth. That even in your hardest times, there can always be a person you can go to. A person you can trust."
Arnold stares in at him in disbelief.
Kassius: "At the end of the day, just remember..."
In a moment of complete silence all around, both Kassius's words and the memory of his sister's last words flood his brain.
"You are never alone."
Arnold stares at Kassius, as the tears stop coming out.
Kassius reaches for his pocket.
Kassius: "I should catch up to her before she probably gets into trouble."
Kassius throws his wallet on the floor in front of Arnold and looks the other way.
Kassius: "You can always trust me. So I hope I can always trust you."
Kassius starts running towards the forest. Arnold sits on the floor, staring at the wallet. Kassius, as he runs ahead reaches the entrance to the forest. He starts running through it.
Kassius: "Where is she?"
Uqlora: "Ahhhhh!"
Kassius runs further ahead and notices people so he hides behind a tree.
Kassius: "There she is. And, it's that goatee guy. He's got a few guys with him. I count six. They also have a car. He's not focusing right now so I gotta be quick and careful."
Kassius sneaks around, trying his best not to make noise, however as he rolls behind a bush, he steps on a tree branch. They notice the noise and two of them go to check it out. They look behind it and notice nobody there. Kassius had snuck by and reached the cage near the car she was being held in.
Kassius (whispering): "Shhh. Don't worry I'm gonna get you out of here."
Someone sneaks up behind him and he's knocked unconscious. Kassius wakes up in front of Arthur Slava, surrounded by the five other men with his hands tied behind his back.
Arthur: "Do you know what you've done?"
Kassius: "I've done quite a bit so help me recall."
Arthur: "Do you think this is a joke? Do you know how many people will be upset if this market were to be disrupted?"
Kassius: "Look goatee. I don't think any of this is a joke. Especially after what you did. So you better run because if my hands get freed, I'm going to cave your face in."
Arthur: "Enough of you."
Arthur removes a gun and aims it at Kassius's head.
Arthur: "Any last words, boy?"
Kassius: "Don't miss my brain hehe."
As soon as Arthur angrily tried to shoot the gun, Arnold comes out of nowhere and kicks him into the car. A man aims a gun at Arnold. Kassius sweeps his leg and makes him fall to the ground, kicking him in the face with his heel. Arnold turns around and deals with all the other men. One by one, he beats them down and knocks them out. Arnold pulls out a knife and cuts Kassius loose.
Arnold: "Here."
Arnold hands Kassius his wallet.
Arnold: "And I'm sorry for earlier. You were right. What happened, happened. If I can't accept it, what am I trying to even accomplish for her, right?"
Kassius smiles from cheek to cheek.
Kassius: "Now that's more like it."
Arthur: "You... Do you have any idea what's coming for you if you do this? You will be hunted down, for the rest of your miserable lives."
Kassius walks up to Arthur as he tries to stand on his feet.
Kassius: "This one is for Joseph."
Kassius punches him directly in the face, sending him into the floor, bleeding from the nose heavily.
Kassius: "You could send the world after us. I couldn't care less. We'll do what we want, when we want. If you need names, it's Kassius Moore and Arnold Jenovise."
Arthur: "Y... you... idio..."
Arthur passes out. Arnold opens the cage that Ulqora was in and she immediately hugs him as she's crying.
Ulqora: "I was so scared."
Arnold: "It's alright. Kas and I will protect you."
Kassius: "Hey, I found the keys to this car. Can you drive?"
As they head out of the forest back into Ritetown, they drive past the main part of the town. Ulqora sits back and covers herself more with the cloak.
Arnold: "I thought we were keeping low for the time being. You know, giving our names and all..."
Kassius: "Ahh, my fault. I was in the moment. You know, make a name for yourself moment. Besides, as long as they didn't snap a picture right?"
Arnold: "I guess. Still descriptions are good enough for police. Let's be even quieter until we get her safe."
Kassius: "Oh, about that. Do you have any plan or..."
Arnold: "Well, I know a place we can take her. I was told it's near the border of Thari and Maldone. On the coast, actually.
Kassius pulls out the map.
Arnold: "Right there."
Kassius: "Hmm. That is quite a travel. We'll need to cross the border."
Arnold: "Also, check this out."
He hands Kassius the flyer.
Kassius: "Ohh. An event. And a red diamond?!"
Arnold: "We only have one chance to take it before it's gone. It's happening in the capital in a week."
Kassius: "We have to get this."
Arnold: "But then I realised we have to take care of her."
Kassius: "Hmm... why not both?"
Arnold: "What?! That's crazy. It's risky enough she's going to the capital. We can't put her in danger like that."
Kassius: "Relax. We can keep her safe. Plus we can't take her to the border then get the diamond it'll be too late."
Arnold: "Maybe we should forget about this diamond this time."
Kassius: "No, no. Trust me. We'll just keep eyes on her at all times. We can steal the diamond, then escape to the border. How does that sound?"
Arnold: "I mean, it sounds risky. But if you're confident we can... fine. But we have to be extra quiet in stealing it. We're here."
They arrive at the train station. Arnold stops the car and they get out. Kassius and Arnold walk into the station and just as they enter, the train arrives. They waste no time and walk into the train.
Kassius: "Whoa! This train is nice."
Arnold: "Let's go sit over there."
Arnold finds a four seater in a train filled with people. They walk side by side with Ulqora, trying their best to hide her. They reach the seat and put her near the window. Arnold sits next to her and Kassius sits across on the other side facing them both.
Speaker: "Next stop, Umoja. Estimated time ten hours."
After five hours, Kassius stomach rumbles as he's sleeping. He wakes up irritated and hungry, and looks around.
Kassius (in head): "Man I'm starving."
Kassius walks up to the machine and grabs three burritos. He goes back to his seat.
Kassius: "Yo. Arnold. You awake?"
Arnold: "Hmm?"
Kassius: "I got us some burritos."
Arnold: "But we don't have any money."
Kassius: "They're free."
Arnold: "Are they?"
Kassius: "I think so. Here."
Kassius gives him a burrito and he sits down.
TV: "On more related news, private ACO matters have been disrupted by two known suspects. No photos but they have been identified by the names of Kassius Moore and Arnold Jenovise. We have received a message from a head officer at the scene.
Arthur: "How dare they make a fool out of me! Especially that boy. I want him ki- Ahh! My nose."
"We do not have information known under these two names so it is best advised to report to your local police if you hear anything about them."
Kassius: "Whoa. Did you hear that? We-"
Arnold reaches at him and covers his mouth.
Arnold (whispering): "I understand the whole make a name for ourselves idea, but remember the plan."
Arnold removes his hands and sits back. Arnold wakes up Ulqora.
Arnold: "Hey, do you want some food?"
Ulqora: "OK."
Kassius hands her the burrito and she takes a bite. Her eyes light up and she takes another bite. And another.
Ulqora: "This tastes so good."
Arnold: "I'm glad you like it."
TV: "We've just got an announcement from Thari. The interview of the G8 is about to begin."
Everyone in the coach they're in walks up to the TV and it gets swarmed immediately.
Kassius: "Hmm?"
Arnold: "Seems like something important."
Kassius: "I guess I'll go check it out."