Well, here's the second chapter.

I hope you'll enjoy it!

And again I do not own the characters or the locations of Tales of Symphonia.

Run! Run! Run! You have to run faster! They will catch you if you don't! Oh please, Martel help me! Please, let me escape! Please, help me! Anna prayed while she was running for her life. She had no idea how she managed to slip past through the guards or how she broke open the lock of her cell. She only knew that she did it! She escaped from the ranch! She was free! Not out of danger but free!

The cold air of the night gently touched her face. It was so quiet. After spending a year in a crowded human ranch she wasn't used to the absence of noise. And the smell of the fresh air was so absolutely wonderful! There wasn't the reek of blood, sweat or other smelling liquids. With joy she filled her lungs with the cool air.

She knew she couldn't return to Luin. It would be the first place the Desians searched through. Returning to Luin wouldn't be just absolutely stupid; it also would be the death of her mother (if she was still alive), a punishment for her escape.

She was running to Hima and the woods before it. There she had a small chance that the Desians would lose her trail. If she reached them before they caught her. At least she couldn't see the ranch anymore. But it was night time so she wasn't sure how far she already got. There was no alarm till now so her escape was not discovered yet.

Just keep running! It's not that far to Hima. You can make it if you just keep running. Just run!

...I never realised before how wonderful it is to be free! It feels so great! No walls around me, no Desians, NO Kvar! It feels like heaven! And the moon is so beautif…Hey, Anna! Focus! When you're out of danger you can admire the moon, but not now!

After quarter of an hour she heard the alarm in the distance. That ear-piercing sound made her heart skip a beat. Oh my goddess, they found out! They found out! They will find me! They will catch me! I'm doomed!...DON'T PANIC! Stay calm, Anna. They haven't caught you yet. You still have a chance. Just keep running!...Actually I'm quite far away now. Fear certainly makes you fast. Okay, the woods must be nearby. Just find them and hide there! Oh please, Martel help me!

Five days past since the day Kvar showed Lord Kratos the Asgard-Human ranch. In this short time nothing special happened, except that Kvar had been in an awful good mood. It seemed that the Angelus Project really had brought him closer to his goal: To become the leader of the five Grand Cardinals. Maybe that had been the reason why she had tried to escape. Well, rather this had been the reason why she had had the courage to try to escape.

When Kvar was in a good mood, what happened once in a blue moon, the other Desians tended to get a bit careless and that had been her luck. She had been able to break out of her cell and to sneak through the whole ranch. One of the minor entrances had been unlocked and that had been her ticket to freedom. I bet there are some Desian heads rolling right now. Kvar must be freaking out! His Angelus Project escaped! Goddess, I would love to see his face!

Finally she could see the border of the first wood. Yes! I made it! Now I just have to hide! Thank you, Martel! Thank you! She could see the trees and bushes. It had been such a long time since she had seen these kinds of plants. She realised how much she had missed the vegetation of Sylvarant.

Only a few meters and then she would have been in the forest, but suddenly Anna felt an incredible heat behind her. Shocked she stopped and could only watch how three flaming fire balls set fire to the trees. Half-elf magic!

NO! They c…But before she could finish her thought, she felt how a whip hit her back. The woman fell to the ground. They caught me! They really did… "There is this piece of dirt!" one Desian yelled. "Got pretty far for a human" stated a second one. Anna turned around and realised that she was cornered by five Desians. No! I don't want to go back! I was so close! So close! Then one of the half-elves kicked her. She couldn't even scream or try to defend herself. She was too exhausted and too desperate. Her entire hope of freedom had been crushed. Anna couldn't even make her body move.

"I think I should teach you a lesson!" said the one who kicked her and continued treading her. "You will pay for trying to run away!" The other Desians just observed, but after a few moments a second one joined him. The pain was nearly unbearable. If I could just pass out, then the pain would stop. They were slowly beating her to death. She somehow managed to protect her face with her hands. I'm gonna die here. After I survived a year of torture in a human ranch I'm going to die because I dared to escape. Because some cursed Desians lost their temper and beat me to death! I don't want to die! Not now! Not like this! Martel, what have I done to deserve this? What?

All of a sudden she felt that she was covered in a liquid. After a few moments the smell told her that it was blood. Surprised Anna felt that no one was beating her anymore. She did not dare to open her eyes and tried to hear what was around her. There was just silence and crackling sound of fire. Am I…dead? Is it over now? But why do I hear fire burning then? Carefully she opened her eyes.

"WHAT IN MARTEL'S NAME…?" she screamed, when she realised that she was surrounded by Desian corpses. The blood on Anna wasn't hers it was…theirs! Shocked she just sat there and covered her mouth with one hand to not scream again. Oh my goddess! What just happened? Why are they dead? What…what…killed them? And…why didn't it kill me as well? Her whole body was shaking, while she searched for the reason why the Desians died. After a few moments she saw a lone figure in the darkness.

At first she just saw the outlines but then the figure came closer into light of the flames behind her. "Who…" Anna started, but she stopped immediately when she recognized who just saved her. Oh. My. Goddess! "Are you alright?" asked Lord Kratos with his usual calm voice. That can't be! He saved me? He killed the Desians? But he…IS a Desian! He is a superior of Kvar! Why…? How…?...Do I…have a concussion? she thought too confused to respond.

"Are you alright?" he asked again and made a step forward. Frightened she moved backwards. For some time there was a dead silence. Her body was still trembling when she answered stuttering "You…you…k-killed them! You killed De…Desians! Wh…why?" After some moments he replied simply "I killed them, because I had too. Now, would you please answer my question and tell me if you're unharmed."

"I...ahhh….I am not…really unharmed, but…I suppose…I'm okay." she answered. Then, before Anna could say something, he said "Alright then. We should leave." he looked around, "More Desians will be here in no time"

"We? What do you mean by that?"

"Alone you have absolutely no chance of escaping the Desians. I'm going to help you till you're safe."

He? Helping me?

"Now wait just a minute! YOU want to help ME till I'm safe? You, a superior of Kvar, want to help me to escape from the Desians? Sorry, but to me this sounds very suspicious! You are a leading member of the organisation that made me go through hell and you ask me to trust you? How should I know that that isn't just some weird Desian-trap or something?" she asked him angrily. Anna might was in a very desperate situation, but she wouldn't trust some strange Desian Lord without a VERY good reason.

He looked at her for a while. He seemed to think about what he should answer her. Then he said "You don't know. I can give you no proof that this isn't a trap. You will just have to believe me. If you want to stay alive, you should let me help you." While he was talking, she was looking into his eyes. She searched for a sign that he was lying to her. For a sign that told her that she shouldn't trust him. But there wasn't. He seemed to be completely honest. You have to risk it! You don't have a choice!

"…Alright. I believe you that you want to help me. I believe you that this isn't a trap. BUT I will not trust you till I know why a Desian Lord should rescue someone like me. And since I'm far too exhausted right now I won't ask you why you are doing this. I also have the feeling you wouldn't answer me anyway…" she answered calm.

He just nodded. Anna, do you really think this is a good idea? He is a Lord of the Desians. He is dangerous. Very dangerous… she thought, while she was trying to stand up. Way too late she realised how exhausted she REALLY was. Oh no! Not now! My body has just a GREAT timing! "Ahhm…I said…that I was okay, but I was wrong. I…believe…that…I'm going…to…" and before Anna even hit the ground, she had passed out.

Fire….pain….blood…."No! Get away!" Anna mumbled, when she woke up. A nightmare… She had dreamed that she had escaped from the human ranch and there had been so much blood. Too much blood…Even when I dream about escaping, the Desians punish me. Some birds were singing, while she was stretching. Birds? But there are no b…And suddenly Anna realised that she was sitting in a forest glade near a little brook.

"Oh my goddess!" she whispered "I really did escape! I'm…I'm free!" For a couple of minutes she was sitting there trying to comprehend that this wasn't a dream. Okay, calm down. Don't freak out! You are free now. Just try to think about what happened yesterday. Then you're allowed to enjoy this incredible feeling of freedom!

You broke out of your cell. You sneaked through the ranch. Then you ran away. But the caught you. And then…and then…you were saved. This Lord Kratos showed up. Then you fainted. How did I get her? He must have carried me. That's a bit strange, but well. However, where is he? Anna looked around. She saw trees, bushes and grass, but no one else. She was all alone. Perhaps he left. Well, if he really did it doesn't bother me. As long if he doesn't cause me any troubles I don't care where he is. Besides he was really scary…

"Okay, now you're allowed to freak out!" she said to herself grinning. Anna stood up and just enjoyed the feeling of being free. The cool air, the soft grass beneath her feet, warm sun that was shining on her and the sound of the purling brook. The sound of the water reminded her eventually how damn thirsty she was.

She walked carefully to the brook and kneeled down. Before she started to drink she made sure that she was alone. Anna had no idea how far she was away from the Asgard ranch. There could be some Desians nearby and she didn't want to risk her new freedom.

Then she started to drink. Oh my goddess! Water tastes so good! So unbelievable fresh and cool! After ten minutes her thirst was satisfied. Before she could think of something else to do she saw her reflection in the water.

"Anna, you look absolutely awful!" she said to herself. Her whole face was covered in dirt and scratches, but she could have lived with that. The part that really disgusts her was the fact that she was still covered in the Desian blood. It had dried over the night and was now black. The blood was everywhere even in her hair.

"How am I supposed to get rid of all the blood? Even if I would take a bath, my clothes would still be full of all this. And if I wash them too, I would have to walk around in drenched clothes for hours" she mumbled. Annoyed she said to herself, while she was trying to at least wash her face "Next time this Lord Kratos kills someone; he should try to do it without spilling so much blood."

"I'll keep that in mind for the next time" a familiar voice said behind her. That startled her so much that she overbalanced and fell into the brook. "What the hell? Do you have to sneak up on me? Great, now I'm totally sodden!" Anna replied angrily, while she was trying to stand up "I thought you left!"

"I said I would leave when you are out of danger, but you're far away from safe. Besides I didn't sneak up to you. I walked normally" Lord Kratos answered. "Yeah, right. Already forgot that" while she was saying this she rolled her eyes "Till I'm safe… You are lucky that I'm not in the mood to ask many questions."

She whipped off some water out of her face. At least some of the blood came off. Then she noticed that he was holding something. "What's that?" She pointed at him. "That is the reason why I wasn't here when you woke up." he answered "It was a bit more difficult to get to Hima without running into Desians than I thought."

"Hima? Are we so close to…Wait! Are you holding some clothes? Clean, undamaged clothes?" she asked with a sudden light in her eyes. "Ye…" and before he could even finish the sentence Anna had ripped them out of his hands and looked at the clothes. It was a white blouse with short sleeves which only reached to the elbows. There were also short brown pants. But there was also some kind of green short dress that seemed to be worn over the other garments. Practical yet pretty clothes.

This fabric feels so soft! And so clean! For a moment she forgot that he was watching her. Then she said "I have to admit that you have a good taste. Not my style but still nice. And you bought this, because…?" "Travelling with someone that is dressed like this" he pointed at her "is a bit conspicuous." "Right. Well, then I should get dressed. Would you mind uhmm…you know to give me some privacy. " she said. He didn't even reply he just turned around and disappeared out of her sight. "What a chatterbox…" she whispered sarcastically.

Behind a tree Anna removed the wet clothes and with great pleasure she put on the new clothes. After wearing the heavy, grey fabric of that thing (because after a year she couldn't call it a garment anymore) the light drapery nearly felt like nothing. She looked at herself in the water. Thanks to that unintentional bath from before, her body was mostly clean.

Well, not completely stainless, but it she looked normal again. The clothes really suited her. They looked somehow cheeky just like her. Fine feathers make fine birds…I look like a normal human in this clothes! They cover all of my scars and even a bit of the Exsphere. But…She sighed heavily. I'm so bony. I really need more weight. …Anna, you're the only women in Sylvarant who thinks something like that.

She turned around and again Lord Kratos stood behind her. "Goddess, you have to stop that! I'll get a heart attack if you don't" she said a bit startled. "Here." he just answered and showed her a brown belt. Carefully she took it and put it on. "You know" she said, while she was looking down at herself "I can't decide if I should be happy or concerned about the fact that you know my size."

"Hmpf"

"But still: Thank you"

"…Do you have any relatives in Izoold?"

"Well, actually yes. An aunt and a cousin. Why?"

"In that case I will escort you to Izoold. There you should be safe."

"Oh! Good. …Wait! Even if we are close to Hima the journey to Izoold would take us at least a month, if nothing unexpected happens."

"Yes. I know that."

"A month. You know that are four weeks or thirty days. That's a long time. Don't you have something else to do? I don't know…something what Desian Lords do?"

"…"

"Wow. Really nothing? Whatever you get paid, you get too much. …But I guess I shouldn't complain."

"We should leave. If we get further away from the ranch you could rest properly and eat something." he said. "Food?" she asked with a surprised voice. Oh my goddess I would kill for something to eat! How could I forget that I'm starving? He nodded. "Oh, well ahmm…Go ahead then. I'll follow." she said, and thought Then I'm able to watch you and see if I should really trust you. He looks to me still very suspicious…and a bit scary.

He started to walk, but after a few steps she added "Your name is Kratos, right? Since we're going to spend a month together I guess it would be easier if we use our normal names. "Lord Kratos" and "A012" are just tongue twisters, don't you think?" "Alright. Let us go, Anna" he answered calm and continued walking.

Is it weird that I like the fact that someone's calling me by my name? Well, at least this month won't be completely uncomfortable, but boring if I have to do all the talking. Maybe I'm able to find out why he's doing that. Although I shouldn't be too hopeful, he doesn't seem like he wants talk about something like that. "I'm right behind you, Kratos" she said and with a content smile she enjoyed the freedom to call a Desian Lord by his name.

I hope you liked this chapter!

Reviews are always welcome!