Ire ran through the forest, branches lashing out and cutting her, but Ire wasn't concerned with that now. All she could think about was how the hell they had found her.

Ire heard what scared her most now. Four pairs of feet were rushing along behind her. She could just hear them getting closer and knew they would catch up to her if she didn't do something drastic. They were more advanced than her after all.

Ire reached a clam river and made her decision. She looked downstream, then dove headfirst into the water. Ire knew the X7s would catch up to her eventually, but the water was perfect for escaping them. She always could swim faster and hold her breath longer than them, so swimming as an escape was a perfect idea.

Ire had swum as far as she could, which was quite a distance, then she finally needed air. She poked her head out of the water and didn't see any X7s, so she stood up and wiped the water out of her eyes. She adjusted her vision, then looked around for any sign of the X7s. She knew that she was probably getting off way too easy, so to play it safe, she dove back under the water and continued swimming downstream.

After another hour of swimming, Ire poked her head out of the water for another X7 check; every once and a while she would just check to see if they were following her. Ire stood up again and looked around. There was still no sign of the X7s, but Ire still didn't feel safe. She looked ahead and saw a city just about a mile away.

'No way they would attack me in a crowded city.' Ire thought, then dove under the water again. The water had been working so well for her, she decided not to go against it.

Ire reached the city wet and tired. At first she walked aimlessly around, hoping to find somewhere to go or just dry at least, but a short rainstorm didn't help with the latter.

"Excuse me," Ire said to a passing man with glasses. "Er...could you tell me what city this is?"

"What?" The man asked.

"I asked you what the name of the city was." Ire said, trying not to lose her temper.

"Seattle." The man answered. He started to walk away mumbling about slackers and time wasters, but something that he said caught Ire's attention. "Slackers and time wasters. Too many time wasters, just like that Max..."

Ire froze. Max *did* live in Seattle, but what were the chances? Ire didn't care. She ducked into an alley and climbed up a fire escape. Once she was on the roof of a building, she looked down and watched the man. She followed him, jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

The man stopped to buy a newspaper. When the clouds rumbled, Ire looked up. Rain. A few drops stung her eyes, so Ire looked back at the man, then continued followed him.

The man went inside a building that had a picture on the side. Ire debated with herself for a moment, then decided that anything was better than the rain, so she went in after him.

Ire was amazed. She had never seen so many normal people happy before. Sure, she had seen the odd smile here and there but the people in here were joking and laughing at the man in glasses. Ire looked around for Max, but saw no sign of her.

"Figures." Ire mumbled. "Just when I'm looking for Max for a real reason, I can't find her."

Ire turned around and almost bumped into a woman.

"Sorry." Ire mumbled and was about to walk off, but the woman stopped her.

"I heard you mention my boo." She said.

"Uh..."

"Max." She clarified.

"Oh, yeah." Ire said. "Do you know where she is?"

"Who are you?" The woman asked skeptically.

"I -er- well...I'm a friend of Max's from -uh-"

"A friend of Max's, huh?" She asked. "Your story is real convincin'."

"Well, I really can't tell people." Ire said. "It's sort of a-"

"Hey you." The man with the glasses called. "Who are y - you're that loon from the street."

"I'm not a loon." Ire said. This man was really testing her patience. "Anyway," Ire turned back to the woman. "It's a real sec-"

"No slackers...or drifters." The man with the glasses said and came over. "Bip bip bip, you. And you," He turned to Ire. "I will have to ask you to leave."

"I'm talking to someone here. Just a minute." Ire said and turned back to finish her conversation.

"Excuse me, but-"

Ire cut him off by slamming him against the wall. She put her face close to his, breathing heavily.

"Look, I only need one more minute, okay? Just go back behind your little desk and shut it." Ire said and let go. She turned and saw everyone looking at her.

"And you don't even work here!" The woman exclaimed. "So, you know Max, huh?"

"Yeah." Ire paused. "Oh! I can prove it!"

Ire dragged her into a deserted corner, so they could have a private conversation.

"Okay, Max told me that she told you about...our family history. I have what she has." Ire said.

"How did you-"

"I told you, Original Cindy," Cindy was shocked that this stranger knew her name. "We have the same family history."

Original Cindy was still skeptical. "Prove it."

Ire checked that no one was listening or watching, then quickly flashed Cindy her barcode.

"Wow, so you wasn't lyin'."

Ire just shook her head impatiently.

"Where's Max?" Ire asked. It's very important that I find her."

"She's at Logan's." Cindy said.

"Logan...where does Logan live?" Ire asked hurriedly.

"Foggle Towers, but-"

Cindy didn't even get to finish. Ire had already run out the door, shouting thanks as she ran through the ran.
Ire stopped once or twice to get her bearings, then finally arrived outside Foggle Towers. Despite the rain, Ire smiled.

'Please still be here. Please still be here.' Ire hoped as she stepped into the elevator. She was glad that she didn't have to beat the location of Logan's apartment out of anybody, her sopping clothes would've weighed her down.

With a soft ding, the elevator doors opened and Ire walked out. According to the door man, Logan lived at the end of the hall. Ire walked down the hall, leaving wet footprints as she went, and reached the door. She knocked gingerly, then waited.

The door opened and there stood Max.

"They found me." Ire said simply.