A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs!

Thank you to the reviewers, it means a lot.

I was really debating if I should continue this story or not, (I've been pretty bummed lately) but I've resolved to keep it going!

I apologize it's a short chapter, I'll be working on more during the weekend, so hopefully this ties you guys over ;)

(If I get some more reviews, I might throw in a couple of illustrations as well…)

Lillie decided to go the opposite direction. Of course full on running in a place unknown was not the brightest idea, but she had too much adrenaline pumping through her veins to think about stopping. She flew past nervous passerby, and soon slowed to a jog, surveying her new surroundings. Everything looked so…dirty. Smog floated above and there was a lack of color she was used to seeing back in her home village. Her legs hurt, her lungs started to sting, and she was about to get really snippy if things didn't start looking up in another hour or so.

She kept frantically looking for a friendly face, however everyone who made eye contact with her quickly found themselves hurrying along.

'What is with these people?' she pondered, completing a full circle before her eyes fixing themselves upon dark red armor in the distance. Her heart suddenly raced again, recalling what happened to Jak only a few hours prior.

'No, please no. This is the last thing I need…'

Lillie clenched her fist and swallowed, grounding her feet in a fighting stance. Steadying her breath, she was trying to decide how to take on the two guards as they crept closer to her perimeter.

"Child!"

A sharp voice interrupted her fighting plans. A cold hand clamped itself on Lillie's wrist, spinning her around.

"Who do you think you a-!"

"Lower your voice child!"

Lillie came face to face with …air. Looking around with a confused face, her eyes finally connected to the hand that held her wrist tightly. Attached was a short, elderly woman with piercing blue eyes glaring her down. She was covered with dark and dirty scarves and wheezed harshly from old age.

"You are going to get yourself killed child," her voice was still sharp.

"Well what am I supposed to do? I don't know where I am, I can't find my sister, and my friend just got taken away..and.."

"Do you young people ever shut up!?"

The old lady shook Lillie's arm causing her to stumble a bit.

"Listen up and listen close, you don't look from here and that isn't my problem,"

"Gee thanks, any other kind words of wisdom?" Lillie narrowed her eyes and huffed. If Keira had been there, she would have been giving her a mouthful about 'respecting your elders.' Lillie's heart faltered a bit at the thought of how her sister was doing.

The old woman continued, "I know someone that can help you. Go to the Hip Hog Saloon and ask for Tes-"

The old woman stopped short, as she noticed a guard was only a few feet away.

"Go child, you best keep moving and keep your head down. Follow this road 'round and go towards the port. Good luck girl,"

And with that, she dropped Lillie's wrist and turned on her heel, waddling away quickly.

"The Hip…what?" Lillie muttered to herself.

She wanted to go towards the old woman again, but lost sight of her as the crowd picked up. Turning the direction she was told, she lowered her head and started moving, making sure to walk out of eyeshot of the guards.

A wet prick hit her cheek and she looked at the sky. She couldn't tell the difference between the smog and clouds, but noticed it did indeed get a bit darker.

'Please don't rain, I'm going to lose it…' she thought as she clenched her teeth.

As if the clouds had heard her thoughts, a crack of thunder rippled through the buildings and a fat drop landed on her nose.

"Oh come on! Really? Now?! Rain?! This is great!" she kicked up dirt with her bare toes. Lillie winced. She lifted her right foot to reveal bruises and scrapes on it. Walking through a dirty city with scraps littered on the streets was far different than lush grass or warm sand, and the difference took a toll on her.

A few citizens stopped and stared at her outburst, and she quickly lowered her head back down and trudged forward, feeling the drops fall heavier. After walking for about fifteen minutes, a faint blue glow streaked ahead, and a closer look at told her she had reached some sort of dock.

Her eyes scanned for some sort of sign. Unfortunately she didn't know exactly what kind of place she was looking for. Crossing her arms as the rain picked up, Lillie walked around the port a bit slower. Her lips were chapped from a sudden cold wind, and she felt hunger pangs start to develop.

'Hip...something…Hip…Hog…something...'

Her eyes scanned her surroundings once again and noticed a faint neon glow to her left. A gaudy sign read "HIP HOG SALOON" in bold lettering. It looked a bit run down but the low yellow lights looked warmer than where she stood.

"She sent me to a bar?! Of all places!? A BAR?!" Lillie screeched startling a few patrons heading inside.

She felt another chilly gust of wind and started to violently shiver. After hesitating for a few moments, she decided she had no other choice but to enter the establishment.

The place was warm to say the least, but that was the only positive note she could offer. Booths aligned the place along the sides, and in the middle was a boxing ring with a pole down the middle. Trophies and posters aligned the walls and the atmosphere was heavy with the stench of alcohol. A few men raised their brows at the sopping wet teen, and she crossed her arms in front of her chest-suddenly feeling self-conscious. Gazing around, her eyes rested on the bar with a petite blonde wiping down a few bottles. Holding her breath, Lillie started towards her.

'What was name was I supposed to ask for?' Her mind suddenly panicked.

'T…Tay…Tel…T'

"I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEONE NAMED JESS!" Lillie blurted as soon as her hand touched the bar.

"Sorry sweetie" the blonde didn't even look up from polishing a second bottle, "No Jess here."

Lillie mentally slapped herself.

"I meant. Tess…uh…Tess?"

"Well my name's Tess," she stopped polishing and raised her brow, "What do you want?"

Lillie realized she didn't really know what she should have been asking for. Her body was cold and ached, she missed her friends, couldn't find her family, and was nearly scared out of her mind.

"I-I need help," she whispered.

"Speak up honey I can't hear you," Tess smirked.

Tears rimmed Lillie's eyes and she suddenly spilled, "I don't know how I got here! My dad is gone, my big sister is gone," her sobs became heavier,

"Those stupid red armored freaks knocked out my best friend and took him who knows where! And-and," Lillie hiccupped,

"I'm cold and want to go home."

Tess softened her expression and looked up at the sobbing young girl. She looked broken, and Tess sighed putting her glass down.

"It's okay sweetie, it will be okay," She patted Lillie's wet hair that was now messing up the clean bar counter.

"I don't know where I am…" Lillie shook.

"I don't know where you came from either sweetie, but for now let's get you warmed up and settled. I'll see if I can arrange for you to stay with me in the meantime. I need to find Torn as soon as I finish cleaning up," Tess paused to look at the young girl,

"What's your name?"

"Name's Lillie,"

Lillie had stopped crying and casted her eyes down,

"Thank you for helping out. I promise I'll be out of your hair soon."

Tess smiled in response, "Don't worry about it honey, you might be of good use soon."

'Oh my gosh is she going to sell me off to someone?!' Lillie's eyes widened.

"No! No not what you're thinking nothing like that!" Tess laughed,

"Why don't you hop over the bar and nap for a bit while I close up. You're lucky Krew isn't here right now…"

Lillie pushed herself over, careful to not slip on the water droplets from her hair, and ducked behind Tess. She settled herself onto a large crate and closed her eyes, hearing the clinking of bottles as Tess sped up her work.

Just as Lillie's mind drifted off, she felt a harsh shake.

"Let's go!" Tess whispered.

Lillie's head felt heavy and she was developing a headache behind her eyes. Tess grabbed her hand and dragged her passed a small door in the back of the bartending area. The only thing Lillie could make out was that it was pretty late seeing as how dark it was, and the rain had stopped. She attempted to keep up as Tess flew down alleyways and paused to check her surroundings. They finally reached a small door in a seemingly abandoned building and crept inside.

"Who is she?" A voice growled as soon as reached the bottom step.

A figure emerged from a corner to reveal a man with dark dreads and a tattooed face. Lillie studied the markings and felt a chill as she remembered the redhead who assaulted Jak. She recalled him having similar markings as the scowling man that was in front of them.

"She needs help Torn," Tess stepped in front of her.

"Newbies make me nervous," The guy named Torn eyed her up and down, making Lillie suddenly feel smaller than she already was.

Tess turned her head to Lillie, "Go down the hall sugar, to your left should be an extra bunk. Get some rest for now, I'll handle it."

Lillie nodded numbly and ducked behind her towards where her finger was pointing.

"She's lost and needs our help," She could hear Tess begin the conversation again.

"I don't care! How do we know she isn't working for him as a decoy?!" Torn retorted.

"Because she is young and already appears to have had a bad run in with them already," Tess started to get testy, "She doesn't even know where she is right now it seems…"

Lillie walked into a small room with two bunks. She belly flopped onto the one that didn't seem to have been touched and shoved the pillow over her ears. Things had been too much for her, and she felt like crying again.

'Since when have I been such a crybaby? That's Keira's job…' she thought to herself.

Her heart grew heavy again at the thought of her sister, as well as her situation. Her limbs ached, and her mind grew wearier as she relished in the softness of the bunk.

'I'll figure out a plan,' She reaffirmed herself before closing her eyes and drifting off into a deep sleep,

'I always do.'