A/N: Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well! Thank you to all my readers so far, I hope you have been enjoying it. Please let me know what you think!

7:45pm

Caleb

The journey from the train station was cold and slow. Kara stopped a few times to check on Alice who was trembling with the cold. But all three adults were determined to push on.

"Do you know how much farther this address is?" Caleb asked Kara as they came into a street.

"Not much farther," she replied, smiling at Alice reassuringly.

Ten minutes later, Kara pointed to a dark, foreboding house that was surrounded by a wall and metal bars. The porchlight flickered.

Alice sniffed, wiping rain from her cheeks. Kara bent down, cupping Alice's face in her hands.

"You gonna be okay? We'll get some help here. Soon, this will all be a bad memory." She turned to the others. "This is the place."

"I don't like this," Ruby muttered, frowning.

"We've seen worse," Caleb reminded her.

Kara rang the doorbell. Twice. Then a man with a scruffy beard and piercing dark eyes, opened the door ajar.

"Are you Zlatko?" Kara asked slowly.

"Who's asking?"

"I was told you could help us."

He began to retreat. "I don't know who told you that. You came to the wrong place. I'm sorry." The man began to close the door, but Kara was faster. She slammed her hand against the wood.

"Wait! We really need your help."

"Please, Sir," Ruby interrupted as his eyes landed on Alice.

Zlatko nodded, sighing. Then he opened the door wider.

"Come in." Kara and Alice sidled past him closely followed by Ruby and Caleb.

Caleb shivered suddenly and Zlatko smiled.

"So, you must have had a long journey, huh? Make yourselves at home, don't be shy." A tall, dark man entered the hall. He towered over them and Alice cowered behind Kara. "Luther, would you be so kind as to take our guests' coats? Oh, don't be afraid of our big friend here. He's just another android that I helped. He keeps me company in this big empty house." Zlatko shrugged. Kara and Alice took off their coats, but Caleb expressed his wish to keep his jacket on. Ruby politely said the same.

I don't want him getting a hold of our precious weapons.

"Suit yourself," Zlatko continued. He gestured for them to sit as they made their way into the main room. "How did you hear about me?"

"An android… on the street. He said you could help us…" Kara's eyes darted around the room.

"I see. Deviant, huh? What about her? And you two?" He nodded at Alice first, then the two assassins.

"She's human."

"So are we," Ruby added.

Zlatko leant back into the couch. His eyes bulged in the lamplight.

"And? You wanna find a safe place? Somewhere you can start a new life." He paused, nodding. "I hear Canada is very lovely this time of year. Beautiful landscapes, open spaces, clean air. And no android laws. Great place for a fresh start!"

Kara smiled, glancing between Alice and Zlatko.

"Yes, that's exactly what we want…"

"It sounds perfect," Caleb agreed.

"Of course!" Zlatko leant forward, arms resting on his thighs. "I can help you. But first we have to get rid of your tracker."

Caleb shared a glance with Ruby. If there was a tracker, wouldn't all deviants have been found?

"Tracker?" Kara frowned.

"Yeah, all androids are fitted with a tracking device to locate them at all times. I'll remove yours and you'll both be safe. All of you, I should say." He stood, making his way over to the door. "Follow me. The little one and you two can wait for us in the living room."

"No," Kara said firmly. "She always stays with me." Alice took her hand.

Ruby made to follow them, but Caleb grabbed her hand.

"We'll wait here for you."

"Of course, right this way. Everything we need is in the basement…" Luther followed them down the stairs to the right of the main staircase.

Once they were out of sight, Ruby turned sharply.

"Why did you stop us from following them?" She hissed.

"Because we need to find things out about this guy. He's creepy. There's something about him…"

Ruby nodded. "I'll look in here, you go upstairs. Don't be long."

Caleb snorted. "I've always been faster than you." To prove the point further, he ran up the stairs. They wouldn't have long before someone noticed he was missing.

The upper floor was littered with doors, and it was darker up here. Caleb's bad feeling grew with every step. He pushed open the door ahead of him.

There was one long table in the centre of the room with a lamp. The room was cluttered with small tables and tools, and something else that Caleb couldn't quite see from the doorway.

He moved closer to the strange figures. Then recoiled as he realised what they were—

A muffled shout sounded downstairs.

Caleb hurried towards the door. His hand was on the doorknob when he heard padded footsteps. He stood flat against the wall behind the door, slowly drawing one of his knives.

The shadow lengthened as the person began to come into the room. He gripped the knife.

Then pulled in a deep breath as he saw it was Ruby.

"I'm here," he whispered. She whirled, panic on her face. Another muffled yell.

"Something's happening. I can hear Kara and Alice screaming. We'll never be able to take on Luther. Zlatko is the enemy."

"Then we need a plan—"

"We don't have time to make one. Stay here, take him out. I'll see if I can find Kara and Alice." She pulled up her hood and disappeared into another room.

Caleb scanned the room quickly for a hiding place. There were two large cabinets at the back of the room. But it would be risky…

Zlatko's voice carried up the stairs, and Alice's struggles.

"Let me go! Kara! Kara!"

Caleb slipped inside the cabinet, but the footsteps clattered passed the room.

"I'm gonna teach you some manners," Zlatko growled as he pulled Alice down the corridor. A door slammed and Zlatko's heavy footsteps travelled back towards where Caleb was hiding.

Caleb peered through the crack in the door, watching as Zlatko thumped something onto the table and reached for a screwdriver. His neck was exposed. But something told Caleb that now wasn't the time to strike.

His hand itched to strike. He scrunched his hand into a fist to prevent his hidden blade making an appearance.

The door opened and Kara came in, holding a tray. Caleb's eyes narrowed. Her face was blank. Unseeing. Unfeeling.

"Oh, just set it down over there," Zlatko said, barely looking up. Kara walked passed the cabinet to place the tray onto a small table. Caleb held his breath. "Get rid of that carcass. Take it next door." He kicked an android torso with his foot. Caleb supressed a shudder. Kara just stared at nothing. "Did you hear what I said?" He turned towards her now and Caleb could see what he was working on. Who he was working on. The poor android lay there with a gaping hole in its middle. Kara picked up the torso from the floor and carried it into the storage room on the right. Caleb shifted, readying himself. But Zlatko lifted his head.

"Luther! Luther!"

Luther drifted into the room. He stopped before the table. His eyes glanced towards the cabinet for a split second.

"Yes Zlatko?"

"I should be done here in ten minutes or so. I'll have a look at the little one, see what I can do with her."

Caleb's heart hammered harder. Had Ruby found her yet? How would they help Kara remember? If that was even possible…

"Understood Zlatko," Luther replied. "I'll bring you the little one in ten minutes." His eyes glanced towards Caleb again. Then he left the room.

When Luther's footsteps had faded, Caleb slowly opened the cabinet door. Zlatko was still bent over the android. He stepped slowly, careful of the spare parts lying on the floor. Then all too suddenly he was behind the traitorous human. He shook with rage and opened his left hand quickly, releasing the hidden blade.

"Face me, you bastard!"

Zlatko turned around slowly. Almost unbothered. The screwdriver was still in his hand. He pointed to the gauntlet.

"Fine piece of machinery you have there. Maybe I'll rip it from your carcass and use it for my experiments."

"Only if you can rip my blade from your neck…"

Zlatko stabbed at him clumsily. Caleb stepped back, slashing his blade in a wide arc.

Zlatko moved his arm just in time. Caleb growled.

He went for Zlatko's legs, using the older man's weight against him if he tried to go backwards. But Zlatko saw this coming—he kicked Caleb in the face, sending him sprawling. Then with a wide grin, slammed the broken android over the assassin's head. And all went dark for Caleb.

Ruby

In the storage room, Ruby plastered herself against the side of the wardrobe. She had followed Kara up the stairs and had ducked through another door as she brought the food into Zlatko.

Ruby could hear low voices coming from the door opposite the bear cage. She had not dared to go near the bear who had one normal eye and one android eye. Whatever Zlatko had done to the poor thing, Ruby didn't want to imagine.

The door opened and Ruby stood at still as she could. She could hear Zlatko yelling for Luther in the other room. Ruby peered around and saw Kara placing half an android onto the table.

"Understood Zlatko. I'll bring you the little one in ten minutes," Luther said loudly. Ruby's eyes widened. They didn't have much time.

She made her way over to Kara who stared blankly. Ruby began to shake her.

"Remember Alice. Please. We must find her. You must remember."

Kara blinked. Then continued to stay silent.

Ruby sighed. I'll have to find Alice by myself.

"I'll come back for you, Kara. But you must remember Alice…"

She started back to the door that led to the corridor. Then she heard a squeak behind her. Turning, she saw Kara open the cage.

"What are you doing?" she hissed. Kara didn't look at her. The bear growled as it leant towards her. Then sniffed and curled back into the cage. Ruby let out the breath she was holding and hurried out of the room.

The corridor was quiet. Other than the soft clanging coming from the other room. The door at the end of the corridor on her right seemed like a good place to start. Then Kara appeared behind her.

Ruby shook her head. "Follow me then," she whispered. Glancing behind her with every step, she made her way to the door and placed her hand on the doorknob.

I hope it's not locked. And where is Caleb?

Her heart slammed against her chest as she turned it.

Surprisingly, it turned easily, and Ruby opened it slowly.

A small, hunched figure sat in the corner of the room. She looked up when they entered. Frightened.

Alice.

"Alice," Kara whispered. Ruby turned her head, wide-eyed.

"You remember?" Ruby and Alice asked at the same time.

"Yes, I-I.. how could I forget you?" Kara breathed as Alice hugged her tightly. "I'm so sorry. You were right, we should never have come here. Follow us and don't make any noise, ok?"

Alice nodded silently and Ruby checked the corridor.

"Let's go. They'll be looking for us any minute now."

They made their way back into the corridor where a shout made them halt.

"Luther!" Zlatko called.

"Yes, Zlatko?"

"I'm finished here. Bring me the little one. Then I have someone else to deal with."

"Oh no. Caleb…" Ruby whispered, horrified. She had to find him. First, deal with Zlatko!

Kara pushed open the first door on their left and guided Alice inside. A bedroom with the fire still glowing.

"Hide," Ruby said quickly.

Kara and Alice dived under the table that had a pink tablecloth draped over it. Ruby rolled under the bed.

"Zlatko!" That was Luther.

"What?"

"The little ones gone!"

"Well, it's got to be around here somewhere. Find it!"

The door opened and Luther's heavy footsteps made their way slowly into the room. He stopped between the table and the bed. Ruby covered her mouth with her hand. He wandered further into the room.

"Luther! What the fuck are you doing? Come here!"

"Coming!"

Ruby waited until the door had clicked shut before signalling to Kara.

"They're searching the house. We've got to get out before they find us." Kara clutched Alice's hand tighter.

Ruby splayed her fingers so that her hidden blade sliced out.

"Zlatko won't see another day."