Hey there, reader,
I know it's a longer chapter again, but couldn't hold myself back to write it until Murphy is back :D

Enjoy ^^

Nikki and the stranger girl, Emori was standing just outside the main entrance door of the skyscraper, peaking through a shattered window to see when Titus leaves the room.

"So where do you belong?" asked Nikki looking to her curiously.

"Nowhere. Everywhere," Emori answered not leaving her gaze from the stairs.

"You're not in any of the clans? You know what does that mean? If they get suspicious they can catch you, lock you away…"

"I won't be around that long," she cut in as she looked to Nikki. "I'm here to free my friend and then we are back on the road," she stated simply.

"You better be, otherwise I will have no choice but report you to the commander," Nikki answered.

Emori just gave a dark look to her but seemed like she chose not to answer and pick up a fight. She seemed uneasy and worried. She didn't take her gaze off the stairs.

"Whoever you think is down there, must mean a lot to you," said Nikki still watching the face of the girl curiously.

"He is the only one I got. And I will bring him out, no matter what," said, now peaking to Nikki threateningly, not trusting she will just let them go.

"You understand first I have to hear him out why he was brought here and what Titus wanted from him," Nikki wanted to make sure Emori will work with her in this.

The girl now turned her attention to Nikki debating in herself.

"Why do you care about me? Why should I trust you that you just let us go?"

Nikki shrugged looking back towards the corridor not to miss Titus go.

"I only care about my people. If they are safe. If we are safe. I belong to my friends and not to any clan or any nation the grounders are separated into. And I certainly am not interested in a lonely girl, barley older than me, if not the same age wanting her friend back. If I could have my friend back, I would appreciate a little help also."

Emori looked towards her frowning.

"You said… grounders. Are you… sky crew?"

Nikki nodded.

"Indeed. Yes. I am considered as 'sky crew'," rolled her eyes. "First generation on Earth. I just feel like we will never belong."

Emori just kept looking at her seemed like lost in thoughts then away, thinking deeply.

"What?" asked Nikki. "Oh, let me guess, now you are even more scared, thinking of killing me right now because I am one of those stranger dangers, the bad guys who fell from the stars and declared the whole planet to theirs?" asked sarcasticaly.

"I actually just like you more," she said looking at her with a light smile. "You remind me of someone."

Nikki looked back at her forcing a smile then turned back towards the corridor just as Emori.

"So, what, you're telling me is that you and your friend just… on the road and that is your life?" asked Nikki uncertain.

"Yeah," she nodded. "We… both had our community before. I got… banished. He… he said he never belonged there and never wants to go back," she explained looking to Nikki just like she is scanning her with her eyes. "So now… we are on the road. Having our fun, and trying to avoid crowded places," frowned.

"Do you have any idea why they took your friend? If you two are just on the road not crossing anyone's path?" asked Nikki.

Emori looked to Nikki pressing her lips thinking of her answer.

Nikki saw it and she knew it so well… now she either going to hear only lies or just some neutral answer.

"He had… his differences with… a lot of groups we passed by. He was in the city of light where he got some kind of a chip. I don't even understand the whole thing, but apparently that chip is something everyone is looking for. But how we would have known? We are just two people on the road and he was at the wrong place at the wrong time," shrugged.

"Wait… city of light? Does that exist? One of our people is looking for it," Nikki was so surprised to hear that.

Emori shook her head.

"I don't know. Looks like it is real. Or at least they want us to think it is."

Nikki looked to her wanting to ask more but then Emori jerked up.

"He is there! He's leaving," she whispered excited crouching down not to be spotted and Nikki did the same peaking inside as Titus made his way upstairs.

After just 10 minutes the girls were standing in front of a two-winged door what was locked.

"It's some kind of a lock…" whispered Emori checking it.

Nikki rolled her eyes and pushed her away.

"It IS just a lock," she murmured as she crouched down.

She took a hairpin from her hair, what held back the small braid from her forehead and started to pick the lock.

"You seem like a professional…" stated Emori.

"Please… I was a prisoner," she answered and in no time the simple lock clicked open and she pulled it off of the two handles of the door.

Emori pushed the door open and didn't have to look after her friend long as he was chained to a chair right in the middle of the room what was swimming in the dim light of the torches secured to the wall.

He seemed to be unconscious. Didn't have a shirt on. His body was covered in dirt, blood and bruises. His hair fell into his face as his head was bowed.

While Nikki was just standing by the door looking around in the room Emori rushed to the helpless guy kneeling in front of him, cupping his face.

"Hey…You hear me?" asked so worried then just started to unchain him as she called out his name. "John? John, it's me, Emori."

Nikki shuddered looking towards them as she heard the name, John, and her look stuck on the boy, unable to think or move.

"John?" repeated Emori as she managed to unchain him, holding him up not to fall forward. She was caressing his face, what Nikki still couldn't see clearly.

It didn't take much longer until Emori got a response.

A small moan left the lips of the boy as his head slowly started to rise.

"Emori?" his voice cracked even while saying this short name, but this was enough for Nikki to recognize him.

This voice. The voice she unconsciously adored and thought she is never going to hear again.

Now this was like joy to her ears even if it whispered another name.

The blood ran out of her face, she felt like she is about to faint. Her legs started to shake, and her stomach churned.

The boy lifted his head to look at Emori.

Nikki swallowed hard.

It was him. Murphy.

He is here, looking horrible, he had been beaten up so bad, but it was him. Alive. Here.

Nikki wanted to say something. To scream, to run there, to hug him. To cry, to beat him up even more, to kiss him… but all she was able to do is to stand and try to breath normally.

"I knew you will come. I just... I just knew," he mumbled looking to Emori who smiled lightly, kneeling up more to hug him.

In response he kissed her, digging his hands into her hair and she kissed him back eagerly.

That's when Nikki felt her heart crumble and sink. A naughty teardrop escaped from her eye. She pressed her lips so hard her whole body was shaking. She couldn't think or act normal. She couldn't.

Emori pulled away from Murphy with a light smile looking towards the door to nod to Nikki as a thank you, and Nikki just nodded quickly whipping her face with the sleeve of her shirt.

Emori gave some water to Murphy from her bottle, then checked his face to see his bruises.

"I'll survive," gave Murphy a light smile as he saw Emori's true concern.

"I know," she whispered and when she saw he wants to stand up she helped him up.

"How you found me?" he asked still on a low, cracked voice as he did some micro-movements to see how his body function.

"You know I'm a great tracker. It took some time, but I got a lead," answered Emori.

She seemed so happy.

"And then I had some help also," continued as she turned towards Nikki knowingly.

Emori knew John is also from the sky crew and knew how much he hates them. But maybe now that he sees someone from his group was this helpful, he might not think that badly of them anymore.

John turned towards Nikki and he stuck in place too with slightly open mouth.

His face was a mess. Bruised, bloody and had some stubble, but the expression of full shock was all over on his ruined face.

Nikki didn't move either, just stood there in the door like a statue lowering her gaze after some time.

"Nik…" Murphy breathed and let out a shaking breath.

By hearing her nickname from him she looked back up in tears pressing her lips together, trying to stay strong and look strong.

She couldn't say anything. She didn't know what to.

"Is… everything alright?" asked Emori confused.

She knew they might be surprised but not on this level.

Murphy just nodded a couple of times looking at Emori then back to Nikki.

"Yeah… yeah it's… just… it's…."

Another long moment passed by in this awkward reunion when Nikki took a deep breath and let it out slow.

"I… you look terrible, I will show you the bath, you can… clean up…" she muttered, stretching her head uncomfortable then waved towards the door.

Murphy didn't seem to react, although his look was chained to Nikki's face, so Emori hugged his waist to help him walk.

"Thank you. That would be great and then we are gone, I swear," Emori nodded as she led Murphy out of the room, didn't know what is going on, she just wanted him safe and out.

Nikki just stood there as they walked passed her. She couldn't help but stare at Murphy as he slowly passed by. She trembled into the closeness of his and just had to look after him as he walked on the corridor with Emori. He was looking back at her like he is seeing a ghost what made Nikki very uncomfortable.

She needed all her strength to get herself together and follow them silently, making sure Titus is not around.