08 • The Road Less Traveled

If I was on my own, I'd wander the alleys for someone to squeeze some sympathy and pity out of. I'm not saying I can't do that with Tenko, he's very clearly traumatized and would sell the act so much better, but I'm not about to advertise that fact either.

We also need to get out of this city as soon as possible and who knows when our faces will be plastered over the news (the people of this world really enjoy broadcasting tragedies). It's best we're far away enough to not be immediately linked. Then add some type of disguise, not going out in public for a while, and we should be set until the story fades.

Of course that's just a very rough outline of the plan. There's still certain details that have to be worked out — like shelter, food, money, and education. I could care less about my own education, more than ready to dip into the darker parts of society to keep me afloat, but Tenko deserves much more than that. He deserves a chance at forming his own future, at making something out of himself, at doing what he wants and what makes him happy.

There was very little that made me — made Anna happy. I - she - we? How does one refer to their past-life without seeming crazy? I still feel like Anna, everything that made her who she is, but now I'm Rena and- and this is really confusing and stupid and I have much more important things to be focusing on instead of a possible existential crisis. A problem to deal with later.

Shaking my head, I peer at the empty street critically. With our arms linked together, Tenko is carefully tucked into my side and keeping his hands close to himself despite being covered with gloves that I meticulously taped so it wouldn't slip. He hasn't said a word since I've woken him up and told him we're basically running away.

I'm not too worried since I don't expect him to be well-adjusted mere hours after the accidental massacre of our family which, in a messed up way, includes me. Just thinking about it has me grimacing because (a) there's no good way to describe what happened, (b) I don't fully know how I feel about the matter beyond the compartmentalism I did, and (c) I can still feel, taste and smell the blood even though I know it's not there.

The last point is actually kind of annoying because of how distracting it is. My hands keep twitching from the phantom feeling of the sticky liquid; the area I bit off my own tongue pulses; my back aches and itches; my mouth waters in an effort to get rid of the salt and metallic taste.

The cold morning air most certainly does not help but it does give me a good excuse for why I'm covered in goosebumps. There's no easy way to tell one's twin brother that he's the reason their body is reacting with fear. It's also a super insensitive thing to do and I actually care about his feelings and health.

Speaking of which, the money I snagged from the house won't last very long if either of us get sick. Mostly because neither of our parents carried around loose cash, so their wallets were unfortunately bare of money. Also, the allowance they gave us (as in Tenko, Hana, and myself) wasn't much to begin with.

Thankfully, old habits die hard and I know all the passwords and pins needed to take out money from ATM machines. There's a couple of hours time frame before their bank accounts get locked so that's the first objective. Not that I can't possibly hack into it later when it is locked, but this is much easier and within my current access.

Which is why I'm staring at the empty street so carefully, looking for security cameras and the best way to approach the money machine. Ideally, I'll take out as much money as it'll allow me to before getting suspicious. But, it's not exactly safe for two five-year-olds to be carrying around so much money either.

Decisions, decisions, I sigh quietly. This would be so much easier if we were older or taller because at least then we'd have the option of stealing a car to get where we need much faster and easier.

"Okay," I murmur, finally deciding that I'd much rather have as much money as possible than wind up needing it later on and regretting. "Let's go."

After this we're getting out of the city, no matter what.

ʕง•ᴥ•ʔ

Tenko doesn't really understand what's happening, what they're doing. He knows but he doesn't understand. He knows that he- he- and that everyone is now-

He takes in a quiet but deep breath, forcefully pushing those thoughts away. He can't afford to be distracted, not right now. Not when he and Rena are alone, in the middle of the night, stealing money from their family's bank accounts.

Rena had explained it to him, in a quiet but soft and warm voice, as she gently directed the both of them to the machine across the street. It kept him distracted from the bad thoughts; the itch he feels but trembles at the thought of reaching for it.

But now, watching as his sister jumps and hefts herself up to sit precariously on the small ledge so she can reach all the buttons and screen, Tenko can't help but really think about it all.

He's always known that his twin was odd. She's too smart and mature, always the first to understand the conversations adults have and be able to argue against them. Then there were times where she seemed tired and old, looking at everything like she's both seen it before and not. And she'd just know things, like how she was the one to teach him fluent English. He's even caught her murmuring in some other languages he's never heard before.

It was never something he questioned. He may be five-years-old, and was younger all those other times, but he knows his twin. It's an instinctive understanding. Rena has secrets, things she's unwilling to share and others she'd rather forget, but never once has she lied to him. Never has she not supported him; rather she would try to give him whatever he'd need.

Everything he knows, his sister taught him. Even now, she's still teaching him. Talking him through what she's doing, why it matters, and how she's doing it.

He should question it, now more than ever. He should ask her how she knows all this stuff, how she could be so comfortable breaking the rules and laws. The thing he wants to ask the most, at this moment, is why.

Why does she insist on sticking around?

He knows, better than anyone ever could, just how much Rena doesn't need anyone. She could succeed at whatever she does all by herself. It scares him sometimes, thinking about the day she'd realize it and leave them- him.

"Come on, Ten," she whispers to him, letting out a quiet grunt as she jumps down. The backpack she holds is suspiciously fuller than before. She smiles at him, all soft features and determined eyes. "Let's go catch a train."

He blinks, thoughts coming to halt at the face of her confidence. He doesn't say anything but shuffle closer, something in his shoulders relaxing when she reaches out first, letting him hook their arms together.

Tenko still doesn't quite understand, but he does know this: Rena won't leave him.

And that's enough for him.

ʕง•ᴥ•ʔ

I didn't have a destination in mind beyond getting away when we reached the train station. Thankfully there was nobody around, though I'd have some concerns about people being up at around four in the morning. Unfortunately, the earliest train wasn't until after five, so we were stuck waiting on a cold bench.

When the first train had pulled up, there was still no one else around. I quickly tugged Ten and I on board though, since there was one person getting off. Luckily the short, old man didn't seem to see us; looked rather in a hurry while talking on the phone.

The inside was empty, so I tucked the two of us into a corner that'd make it hard for others to spot us immediately. I'd rather not deal with any questions for as long as possible for however long we're on the train.

About ten minutes in, Tenko had drifted off to sleep. I didn't move in case it'd wake him up, but tried my best to make sure he was comfortable. Plus, he'll need all the sleep he can get once last night's events finally settle in.

With that in mind, I didn't wake him up even after two hours passed and the beginning of morning rush hour picked up. However, I carefully dug out two hats from our bags, making sure our faces couldn't be seen.

Several adults looked our way but none approached, either because they were too tired or because they didn't care. It wasn't too surprising; people naturally don't want to get involved or care about anything outside of their personal life.

The behavior is disappointing, when the situation is laid out in vague terms, but I'm thankful that there were no soft-hearts around. Or people that looked too closely once they started checking the news.

That was when I knew we had to get off, when I started hearing the whispered sympathies from people getting on and off the train. Tenko didn't appreciate being woken up, especially not when it meant he had to take a moment to think about where he was and why.

We got off at the next stop, not paying much attention to where we suddenly were. All we knew was that it was past eight in the morning and we were officially all on our own. No longer being in our home city really nails that in.

At least, in the daylight, we don't look suspicious anymore. There are plenty of adults around for us to follow behind to make it look like we aren't on our own either. All that's left is shelter.

"Where's someplace that people won't go looking for two dead kids?" I say it quietly and open to discussion despite already having an answer. Ten just looks back at me. I smile. "Where they don't look at all."

ʕง•ᴥ•ʔ

I was going to keep this one going, but then i realized that what I was going to add wouldn't match up with some of my other plot points so ugh yeah I need to figure that out

Hope you don't mind too much