So this is the first fanfic I've ever posted, and I'd be lying if I said I had an outline.
Because I don't.
I'm writing this by the seat of my pants, so... let's see how this goes?
Also, the title is subject to change at any time, I kind of just randomly came up with it.
Chapter One - Warning Bells
Ludwig sighed and rubbed his eyes, leaning back in his creaking chair. In front of him, metal gears and screws lay scattered across the usually pristine work table, a single lamp lighting up the dark room. His home had the unfortunate positioning of having its only window facing away from the sun, its concrete walls casting long shadows over the minimal amounts of furniture. The store upfront had more lights, but Ludwig didn't see the point of spending extra money on more lamps for the back. He only needed one to work, and he certainly didn't need blinding lights to sleep or even to cook on the worn down stove in the corner.
Now, Ludwig glanced at the plain brown clock hanging from the wall, one that he'd built himself. The majority of clocks sold in the Fourth Sector were off by a couple of minutes, or jammed easily, and Ludwig refused to risk being anything but punctual. He even had a watch that he'd adjusted, though the face was faded and difficult to make out in dim lighting.
Standing, the man began returning the gears back to their original slots, which he'd carved into the wooden table. As for the half of the steering wheel he was working on—if it could even be called half, considering its state of disarray—Ludwig placed that in a corner of the room, with the rest of the incomplete hoverboard.
The mechanic stood, stifling a yawn and replacing his oil covered gloves with the clean brown ones he wore outside of work. As he ducked under the curtain leading to the store, he grabbed his matching brown coat and slipped that on as well.
Just as he stepped out the room, however, the man paused and glanced at his left arm, unconsciously testing the elbow. He took another look at his watch, then ducked back under the curtain and up to his desk, where he opened the drawer and pulled out the tiny bottle of maintenance oil. He rolled up his left sleeve and removed the glove, revealing a mechanical arm attached from the elbow down. It was slightly out of date in design, with its nerve function only capable of moving a single joint at a time. But Ludwig was hardly a musician needing such complex motion, and he'd gotten used to the occasionally stiff movement. It did the job, and he didn't feel like wasting money on one of the newer ones, which were often more fragile, anyways.
Pulling out a handkerchief, the man began promptly oiling down the joints of the prosthesis. Technically he was supposed to remove the arm beforehand, but he didn't have the time. Besides, he didn't even really need to oil it. Kiku, his mechanic, always oiled the arm after making repairs, if any were needed, considering that Ludwig himself would fix the smaller errors. But still, he didn't feel quite right going without oiling first, like it was a sort of unspoken act of politeness.
Once he was finished, Ludwig placed the bottle back to its usual position and discarded the handkerchief, quickly ducking under the curtain and striding through the small front store, which was closed, and exited out the front door, stopping to lock it. His door, like most others, locked automatically, but he didn't trust the government's security system. It wasn't that it didn't work, it did, but someone of higher rank need only swipe an id card to enter.
Not that he had anything to hide, but Ludwig preferred having his home, no matter how small and run down, stay feeling like a home.
Outside, the dusty streets of the Fourth Sector were fairly empty, as they often were, with only a few passersby dotting the roads. Most had already retreated into their square houses, and unlike the Third Sector, very few vendors set up shop outside. The smog was too heavy here, thick enough that all the buildings appeared desaturated. The only color here, really, came from bits of metal reflecting off the sky, which was yellow on its best days and ash on its worse.
Thankfully, today was one of those yellow sky days, when the sun almost shone through the clouds, but not quite.
Ludwig hurried down the streets, cutting through alleys and looping around buildings to reach the base of the Lower Third Sector. As he walked, the familiar call of the newspaper boy resounded from ahead, and the mechanic stopped to trade a coin for a newspaper, reading as he walked ahead.
It was the usual. Improvements in security, another ball up in the Second Sector, more synthetic plants created. He would be excited for the last one, except only the First and Second Sector had the luxury of adding the false flowers and grasses to their homes. Turning the page, Ludwig slowed, eyes narrowing as he read the next article. Apparently, the resistance was growing larger, with more members joining. It was even rumoured that a coup was being planned.
Ludwig sighed and shook his head, folding the paper and placing it in his coat pocket. It wasn't that he disagreed with the sentiments of the resistance, quite the opposite, actually, but he couldn't help but find their efforts incredibly useless in the long run.
A rebellion? Here?
Within the four sectors, there was nothing the government didn't control. The seemingly dirt streets had listening devices planted beneath them. Every building issued had security cameras built into the concrete itself. In the higher sectors, where entire buildings were constructed of tiny machines, easily manipulated to add rooms and shift hallways with the touch of a button, the security was even worse.
Even the colorful mechanical hummingbirds the government had released earlier that year, supposedly meant to bring some liveliness to the sky, were really just flying spy cameras. Their seemingly unplanned movement was fully programmed, done to look random, but actually ensuring that every square inch of the sectors was covered by at least one for every few minutes. Even now, in the distance, Ludwig could see one, zipping about between buildings. He was, admittedly, rather fond of the birds, even if they were just government tools. It was rare to see color, and they did liven the atmosphere. Still, their purpose was the same, and they were yet another element to be cautious of.
Frankly, Ludwig was surprised the resistance hadn't already been caught. He couldn't imagine where their hideout must be, if it could somehow evade the government's eyes for so long. Perhaps he was being overly pessimistic, but Ludwig thought he had the right to be more skeptical. His years as a guard in the Upper Third Sector had bore witness to a level of manipulation that still brought chills down his spine.
"Mr. Beilschmidt?"
Startled, Ludwig spun around, having lost track of his surroundings. He turned to face a young girl with short blonde hair and a slightly taller boy, who looked shockingly similar to the girl, the only difference being the purple ribbon in the girl's hair. There were times when Ludwig wondered where they'd bought that ribbon, considering that colored materials were both a rarity and expensive, especially in the Fourth Sector. But then, it had, supposedly, been a gift.
Ludwig's shoulders, which had automatically tensed, now relaxed.
"Lili. Vash. How are you?"
"We're doing fine, Mr. Beilschmidt. And you?"
It always amused Ludwig how politely Lili spoke. But then, Vash had once told him that she was originally from the Second Sector, but had escaped to the Fourth Sector, an orphan, after the death of her parents to members of the resistance. Ludwig always thought it an odd coincidence that the two looked so similar despite not being related. But then, they called that fate, didn't they?
"I'm fine," Ludwig said. Vash frowned, eyes glancing ahead at the trail.
"You heading somewhere?"
Ludwig nodded. "I have another appointment with Kiku." Seeing Lili's confused stare, he added, "He's my mechanic. For my arm," he explained, raising his left arm to prove his point. Lili's eyes widened a bit and she nodded in understanding.
"Ah, I see."
Vash cleared his throat. "Actually, I wanted to ask if you had time for another checkup. Lili's leg's been acting up again."
"It's not so bad," Lili added, "you don't have to if you're busy." Vash gave his sister a frown, the ones he usually reserved for when she was being, in his opinion, too kind for her own good. Ludwig shook his head, turning to the girl.
"No, it's fine. I have a free schedule tomorrow, so you can come in anytime you want."
Lili smiled. "Thank you. Then we'll do that." Her eyes shifted to concerned. "Oh, but you have an appointment now, right? I'm afraid we've been taking up your time..."
Ludwig shook his head. "No no, it's alright." He gave the girl his best attempt at a smile, which she thankfully seemed to understand, from the way she relaxed. Vash raised an eyebrow, as he often did when Ludwig failed to emote. Not that he was one to judge, considering his constant scowl and unamused expression. Ludwig glanced at his watch, frowning a bit at the time. "I'm afraid I have to be going. I'll see you tomorrow, then."
With a quick nod of his head, Ludwig spun around and continued his way down the road.
Ludwig rarely thought back to his guard days in a positive light, but as he displayed his traveler's pass to the security guard, he couldn't help but be grateful. Traveler's passes were rare to come by among the lower sectors, and signing up for one was an ordeal that took far longer than it should, especially since the Second Sector could just file for one and receive it the next day in the mail. Not that many nobles traveled beyond the Upper Third Sector, where all the stores were.
Climbing the stairs leading to the Lower Third Sector, Ludwig breathed in deeply as he passed the massive pillars that supported the Upper Third Sector above. Even here, in the lower part, where the elevation wasn't that much different, the air still seemed so much fresher. Even the multiple factories dotting the perimeter of the circle were unable to cloud the air, at least not to the extent of the Fourth Sector.
Skirting around the edge of the buildings, it wasn't far until Ludwig reached one of the lifts, circular platforms that rose up and down between the two halves of the Third Sector. Ludwig joined the crowd in front of him on the next lift that reached them, the propellers beneath it whirring as it began to rise. Ludwig pretended not to notice the way some of the passengers would stare at him, shifting away a bit. Ludwig, in spite of his rather cleanly appearance, still screamed of being from the Fourth Sector. It was probably the coat, which was an older design, while the other sectors had already moved to different fashions. Not that Ludwig would bother changing his, anyways.
Still, Ludwig couldn't help but tense a bit, eyes darting about as they rose steadily through the yellow sky. Kiku's store was located on a platform hanging down from the Second Sector, and this lift only went that high. Actual lifts to the main Second Sector were separate.
Since there weren't many platforms to begin with, it was expected that, when the lift paused at the edge of the Upper Third Sector, everyone except Ludwig got off. The light humming of electricity that had paused the lift now quieted and he was moving up again.
Now, with Ludwig the last person on the lift, he let out a little sigh of relief, relaxing his posture and glancing down at the Third Sector below him. As per usual, the streets were dotted with civilians and street vendors, the hustle of the crowd mingling with the droning of factories.
For a moment, Ludwig watched, entranced, as the murmurs shifted to a deafening roar and the buzz of machines shifted to the quaking of splitting pillars and smoke destroyed the little bits of color and a sea of flames swept the streets into chaos—
Ludwig blinked, and the streets were back to normal. There were only booths and civilians, no red to be seen. Shaking his head, he rubbed his eyes, silently cursing under his breath and quickly turning his attention away, unconsciously touching his left arm.
Thankfully, the lift was nearing the hanging platform that Kiku's store was on, a rather small building that he owned along with his elder brother, Yao Wang, who was also a mechanic, but was far better at dealing with the installation surgeries themselves. A couple of times Ludwig had questioned why he hadn't decided to become a doctor, but the man had obstinately refused, stating that he would never leave his brother alone.
Kiku Honda himself was a mechanic of good renown, known for his unique inventions and clever problem solving skills. While his quiet, often vague nature made some uncomfortable, Ludwig had long since grown used to the idea that he'd never truly understand what the man was thinking.
The lift slowed to a stop as its edge brushed against the platforms, the light buzzing sound indicating it was safe to get off. Stepping off, Ludwig paused for a bit to straighten his coat, ears adjusting to the sound of the propellers holding the Second Sector up in the air. That was another reason he'd never go there willingly—he could never get used to the noise. Yao had often claimed that their position beneath the floating sector meant a constant supply of wind on hotter days, and that it blew away much of the smoke that draped across the rest of the sectors, but Ludwig wondered if he was actually that satisfied with his location or if he was just making excuses.
Shaking his head, Ludwig walked up to the building, which was built precariously close to the edge, all things considered, and knocked on the wooden door. That was another odd thing, the two brothers had chosen to build their entire store out of synthetic wood instead of the usual metal or concrete. Security, they'd said. Everyone knew that even the regular materials had listening devices, albeit not as many as the computer constructed buildings, but there was still too many to feel secure about. Wood probably had some devices, too, but not nearly as much. It was too difficult to fit the pieces inside the fine grains without being noticed, which Ludwig thought was silly, because everyone already knew about the security measures. Either way, it meant wooden buildings cost a fortune and Ludwig couldn't help but wonder how much their store would be worth if they sold it.
From within, a calm voice called out, "Come in." Not waiting another moment, Ludwig turned the bronze handle and stepped inside.
The inside of the store was much smaller than the outside would have you believe, with a low wooden ceiling that hung clocks and gears, and shelves crowded around the walls. Red sashes looped around wooden pillars, and lanterns lit the dim interior with a pleasant golden glow. Yao had been the one to add the red sashes, claiming that the store had needed some more color, and Ludwig had to say he agreed. They were a welcome touch, though Ludwig also wondered where Yao had obtained such bright fabric. But then, he'd long since learned not to question the man's connections.
From a back door, Kiku Honda entered the room, a warm smile on his face as he made a light bow. "Ludwig, it's good to see you," he said in that same polite voice he used for everything. Ludwig nodded, giving a small smile in return.
"The same to you, Kiku." A part of him remembered the days when Kiku had insisted on calling him "Mr. Beilschmidt." He'd gotten rid of that as soon as possible.
"Here for the checkup?" Kiku asked, straightening. Ludwig nodded, and Kiku wordlessly led the man to the back room, the door closing softly behind them.
Kiku's personal workshop was missing the bright red sashes, unfortunately, but it did have the warm lanterns that gave the small space a homely feel. Checking the fire burning in the stove, Kiku gestured for Ludwig to sit at the rectangular table. Without needing to be asked, Ludwig slipped off his coat, revealing a plain black tanktop underneath. He rested his left arm on the table and began undoing the harnesses that attached to the arm and looped around his back. Kiku watched curiously.
"Did you add that yourself?"
Ludwig startled, then remembered that it'd been awhile since his last checkup. He nodded, coughing. "I was worried that it wouldn't support enough weight," he explained as he set the straps aside. Kiku frowned.
"Weight? Have you been working with heavier machines?"
Ludwig nodded, flinching a bit. While a stranger wouldn't notice it, Ludwig could hear the disapproval in his friend's voice.
Kiku sat down beside him, inspecting the arm himself. His frown deepened when he tried wiggling the socket, the only part of the arm permanently attached to Ludwig's body. The man sighed. "Ludwig, you're going to have to be more careful. The socket's starting to come loose, and there's a bit of scarring where you must've jostled it."
Ludwig paused, frowning. He'd noticed that before, but hadn't thought much of it, deciding it wasn't such a big deal as long as it didn't worsen. "You don't think it's infected, do you?"
Kiku shook his head. "No, but I still recommend you let it heal before you do anything else, or the socket could tear more skin. It's a good thing you added a harness, or I'm afraid the damage would've been worse." He paused, gazing at Ludwig curiously. "Pardon me for asking, but what've you been working on lately?"
"A hovercraft," Ludwig confessed. "I've been trying to build a smaller one, with a better steering system," he explained. Ludwig thought it ridiculous that they could get giant airships and entire sectors to float, but still hadn't managed to a single person hovercraft. The king had some larger ones for his soldiers, but they had terrible steering mechanisms that were more at risk of crashing than anything else. Kiku raised an eyebrow.
"Really now? Well, I can understand why that'd require more heavy lifting. But, I still recommend taking a break until everything's healed."
Ludwig nodded, trying not to let the disappointment show on his face. Just when he'd finally been making progress. Kiku turned back to the arm, inspecting the rest of it. When he reached the fingers, his eyes widened a bit. He traced the gears at the joints with a long finger. "Did you replace these, too?"
"The teeth were beginning to rub away, I was worried they wouldn't lock properly," Ludwig explained. Kiku nodded and stood, twisting the lock that secured the arm onto the socket. He gave Ludwig a look, as if to ask "may I," and Ludwig nodded, jaw clenched. The next moment, Kiku popped the prosthesis off and Ludwig flinched, rubbing the skin by the socket. All things considered, the pain wasn't nearly as bad as it had been at first. Nights of removing the arm for oiling had gotten him used to it.
Kiku stood and slid open one of the drawers, rummaging inside for a screwdriver. "It looks like you've been oiling the joints well," he said while searching. "The metal is still in top condition." He paused, drawing the tool and beginning to unscrew the metal frame. "However, if you like, I can replace the frame with sturdier metal, free of charge. It'll be heavier, and the movement might not be as smooth, but if you plan on continuing your building after your wound is healed, then I think this would be for the best."
Ludwig nodded. "Thank you," he said. Kiku gave a little bow.
"My pleasure. Though," he added, straightening, "if you want, you could upgrade. The newer arms have better nerve connections, able to move multiple joints at once. One of my customers, a pianist, says the movement is incredibly smooth."
Ludwig shook his head. "That sounds lovely, but I'm afraid I'm used to mine," he explained. "And I don't need such complexity, anyways. But thank you for the offer."
Kiku nodded. "Alright. I should be done with this case soon. If you like, you can tour the store. Yao should be back by now."
"Yes, I think I'll do that." Ludwig stood and stepped out the door, Kiku's attention already on the arm. He already knew that when Kiku said "soon," he either meant a couple of minutes or hours, and he'd rather leave now than later.
Outside, Yao had indeed taken up his usual place on the table in the back of the store, behind the counter. Ludwig moved closer until he was in front of the counter, then cleared his throat. The man jumped, nearly dropping the screws he'd been holding. Spinning around, Yao's posture relaxed.
"Oh, it's just you. Really, you need to stop sneaking up on me like that. I didn't even notice you!"
Ludwig raised an eyebrow. "Apologies." His eyes fell to the newspaper lying on the counter, the pages opened to the same article about the resistance. Yao watched him, curious.
"You interested in the resistance?"
Startled, Ludwig shook his head, picking his words carefully. "I don't… disapprove of their actions, but I doubt it'll be so easy to overthrow the king."
Yao hummed. "Perhaps, but if no one tried, then nothing would change, right?"
Ludwig shrugged. "That may be so," he said plainly. Yao was still giving him that look, the one that said he was busy peeling away every gesture and expression displayed and reading into your core. Shifting his weight, Ludwig turned his attention to the parts lying on the table. "What are you working on?"
Yao moved over on the bench so he could get a better look, revealing what looked like one of the mechanical hummingbirds that the government had released, albeit in pieces. Yao looked proud. "I've removed all the trackers and cameras, I'm just trying to get it to fly again," he explained. Ludwig furrowed his brow.
"Won't the government notice one's missing?"
Yao snorted. "This one crashed into one of those mercenary's airships, they probably already marked it as broken and useless. Besides, haven't you always wanted to know what's inside of these things?"
Ludwig hummed noncommittally, though his eyes traced the frame of the bird, the bright colors now laid open to reveal the gears and wires within. It almost looked sad, laying there half open. Like a bird that had died mid flight and was stuck in position.
If he looked closely, he could make out various empty compartments and wires that led nowhere, presumably from the devices Yao had removed.
"…And no cameras saw you take it? And there aren't any inside right now?" Ludwig was skeptical. Yao sighed.
"Of course not, I'm not an idiot. This thing fell down, and the airship blocked any other hummingbird cameras. Besides, Kiku and I already disabled the voice recorders here, plus the camera doesn't reach this corner." Yao looked smug as he said this. Ludwig raised an eyebrow.
"And no one will notice a broken listening device?"
"We feed it fake recordings, of course."
Ludwig was impressed. "That's a smart move," he admitted. He'd have to remember this for later use. Yao grinned and patted his chest.
"Of course! You don't get this old without learning some tricks!" He paused, faltering, and frowned. "Though, it's surprisingly complicated inside," he admitted, brushing aside some of the tools to rest a hand on the table. He scowled. "I've been working for days and I still can't figure out how it flies."
"Maybe you accidentally removed a motor with the trackers?" Ludwig suggested. Yao shook his head.
"I already checked that." The man released a long sigh, his eyes tracing the bird, then drifting over to where Ludwig was still standing awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Suddenly, the man's eyes lit up and he shot forward, much to Ludwig's surprise.
"I know, how about you try!"
Ludwig blinked. "What?"
Yao rolled his eyes. "I mean, how about you take this thing home and see if you can get it to fly. You're better at this stuff than me, anyways. Besides, Kiku said you can't do any heavy lifting for a while, right? Might as well work on it when there's nothing else to do."
Ludwig furrowed his brow. "How did you—"
"I may be old but my hearing's still in top condition," Yao said proudly, tapping his head. Ludwig raised an eyebrow. Honestly he didn't think either Yao nor Kiku was very old, at least appearance wise, but considering the amount of age jokes they made, he supposed they simply looked younger than their looks suggested.
"Well…" Ludwig considered the offer. It was true, he wouldn't be able to do much with the hoverboard, and it would be rather dull… He nodded. "Alright. Though are you sure you won't miss it? It's rare to find a broken one of these, isn't it?"
Yao waved the issue aside. "It's fine, it's fine! And these things crash more often than you think." He grinned. "I half think the mercenaries crash into them on purpose. Rebellion."
Ludwig snorted. "What a petty bit of defiance that is," he muttered.
Yao clicked his tongue. "Always so pessimistic. Ever thought of relaxing a bit?"
Ludwig gave a wry smile. "I'd say my current occupation is far more relaxing than guard duty."
"True," Yao consented. He gave Ludwig an odd look. "So you really don't plan on returning to the Third Sector?"
Ludwig froze for a second before slowly shaking his head. "No. I've gotten used to the Fourth Sector, and they need a mechanic. Besides," he added, frowning. "Too many bad memories."
Yao nodded sympathetically. "I understand." He turned and handed Ludwig a cloth bundle where he'd wrapped the bird and its parts into, tying it securely. "Here. And if you do get it to work, be sure to tell me how."
"I will."
Just as Ludwig accepted the bundle, a bit surprised at how light it was, the door to the workshop opened and Kiku poked his head outside. "Ludwig? It's done."
Nodding, Ludwig thanked Yao a final time before returning to the room.
Ludwig was just slipping his coat back on when the alarm bells rang. He paused, frowning, as the distant metal chimes grew in intensity. He and Kiku exchanged confused looks. Those bells hadn't rung since the airship accident, and it was unheard of in the Second Sector. Ludwig thought back to the newspaper, mind churning. Was it the resistance?
The door slammed open and Yao stood leaning against the frame, his forehead creased as he spoke to Ludwig.
"You should probably get going, and…" he nodded towards the securely wrapped bird, which Ludwig had placed in his coat pocket beside the newspaper, "make sure no one catches you with that."
Ludwig nodded, mentally berating himself for not considering how difficult it would be to—he hesitated to say smuggle, but what else was it really—the bird back to the Fourth Sector without one of the security guards at least giving him an odd look.
Kiku stood, too, from where he'd been setting his tools back, an unreadable expression on his face. He nodded. "Yes, you best hurry."
So, with another quick thanks, Ludwig was out the door just as the bells grew louder.
He was the only one on the lift again, even after the stop on the Upper Third Sector. By now, the streets had become uncannily empty, leaving half-closed booths with curtains hastily draped over them in a last-ditch effort to save the goods inside. Ludwig frowned.
At the border, only a single guard remained, and he looked antsy, constantly tilting his head up towards the Second Sector, occasionally speaking into the communication device he usually wore on his belt. That was how he found Ludwig, and perhaps Ludwig should've felt blessed that the guard was preoccupied and simply shooed him away with a mere glance at his id and probably not even noticing the bulk in his pocket.
But he didn't, because as he strode down the stairs, ignoring the thickening air and stench, his frown deepened as he realized that the warning bells here, too, had sounded. The government never sounded separate sector bells unless that problem had moved there, not wanting to cause "unnecessary unrest."
Which meant that, somehow in the few minutes it had taken him to ride down the lift, the problem had already moved itself here. This thought was only confirmed as Ludwig realized the bells above had quieted.
Clenching his fist, the man ducked his head and quickly paced past the dim buildings. He didn't like the silence. The last time he'd heard quiet like this—the contained hush of onlookers hiding from chaos, with only a distant ringing as the backdrop—was after the accident, when amidst the ruined roads and cracking foundations, he had thought, gazing up at the yellow sky beneath a pile of rubble, that it was far too quiet.
Ducking into a dark alley, the vague light having long since died and left only the few street lamps to light a path, Ludwig froze when he heard footsteps. The organized footsteps of a chase. Immediately turning back to take another path, he found himself stumbling back as he crashed into… something.
That "something" was a man, though Ludwig couldn't make out his features too well in the dark. At least, he was fairly tall, though still a bit shorter than himself. But most prominently, and maybe it was just the lighting, but in the glow of the lamplight, his eyes were a fiery red.
For a second, the two stood there, taking each other in as their minds struggled to catch up. Then, a loud shout sounded from behind, perhaps only a building or two away, and that was enough to break the trance.
The stranger jolted, eyes wild as they darted ahead, past Ludwig. He turned around, ready to run back from where he'd just come from.
No, Ludwig thought. That rode, the main street, connected to too many alleys and was too wide to reliably use the shadows as cover. He would be found in an instant.
And in the future, when he looked back on the day, he'd wonder exactly what had possessed him to do what he did next. Perhaps it was the man's eyes, which looked so similar to his own on the day of the crash, or the way the lamplight reflected off of them and reminded him too much of sweeping fires and ash. Whatever it was, he found himself reaching forward and grabbing the man's wrist.
The stranger spun around, startled, but Ludwig maintained a steady gaze, jaw set. The man, seeming to understand the unspoken words, gave the tiniest nod and shifted forward.
Without another word, Ludwig, hand still gripping the man's, led them out the alley and onto the streets, where they promptly broke into a run.