The night was still young as Stephen stood alone on a hill top. The hill had a rocky sub-texture with patches of grass here and there. The city could be seen in the distance from his current resting place. The last clouds escaped from view minutes ago, leaving a tranquil feeling to ease Stephen's mind. Stephen covered his face with his hands and closed his eyes under them. He felt a similar sadness from a day long ago. It was a day he had mixed feelings about, he wished would disappear from his memory however if he had forgotten he would forget Rika; someone he wanted to remember. After he lowered his arms he felt a lone presence that had seemed to be that same heavy presence from the conflict he faced earlier. Stephen listened for footsteps. The blowing wind was to strong to hear properly, it whistled and swirled the long grass and as a result Stephen felt the need to turn around as hearing the attacker would be next to impossible.

When Stephen turned around to face his enemy. He saw two people, one was the aggravating group leader he only recently spared and the other was a Diclonius who looked all to familiar but left uncertainty on Stephen's consciousness. The group leader spoke,

"Rika dispose of him. He is too harmful, he is a murderer who broke into the facility -"

The man before him grinned with a sense of revenge that spoke itself.

The leader of the team had then spoken a falsehood that could cause conflict.

"And he killed your brother."

Stephen felt a feeling of happiness for the fact Rika was alive and a sense of distraught for what that man had done to her at the same time. He watched her face become changed with anger, her eyebrows angled and her breathing became more heavy. He watched her close in to about five meters from him and he was in range for an attack. Stephen was in such shock from his relief that he was unable to move. He spoke hoping to sway her from her attack. After a brief moment of silent behaviour he said calmly.

"don't believe him, he's not telling you the truth. I grew up with you Rika, I'm Stephen."

After finishing his sentence he realized Rika wouldn't know him as Stephen because he changed his name after she was kidnapped. Stephen's decision was a way to hide himself from his past. the separation of his other half was to further this and was all only futile efforts. After every step she took closer Stephen was forced into fear. He realized he had only harmed himself, when Rika's 'superior' spoke in contradiction about what he had said earlier.

"He's lying, He would prefer to kill you but he has to wait for an opportunity."

Stephen faltered when he realized that she was on the initiative to kill. He could only run, as reasoning with her was all too impossible at the moment since she now was no more than a husk trained to kill. Stephen was unaware of how she was treated in their care and as such he could not understand her pain and torment. He looked to the sky for any nearby clouds, however the nearest clouds had already passed. Running would prove difficult and attacking Rika was something clearly unwanted.

Feeling a sense of insecurity, Stephen turned to face the road and saw bright headlights gazing at the road ahead. speeding on the high way. The vehicle would have to pass beside the hill he was on and was his salvation. He saw ambiguous arm shaped auras spread out from Rika and approach him. Stephen ran and glanced over his shoulder continuously because his timing would have to be impeccable if he were to escape her vectors.

He did not want to use his ability carelessly as using force would render it useless for hours to come. The blurred limbs reached over his shoulders what little time he had to react was coming to an end as the invisible hourglass' grain would hit the bottom. Stephen purposely tripped himself as the arms cut and scratched through the clothing on his back – a rather close call. Stephen rolled over rocks and sharp objects until he hit a stump by the road of a tunnel. By luck alone, he was not rolling at a high speed however his cartilage cracked and his lungs emptied of breath. The truck was soon to pass, bringing hope of escape and safety. Still struggling for life, Stephen stumbled until the truck came by the long stretch of road. The driver saw Stephen fall on the road ahead and slowed to a halt. The sound of a door open and close, a warm touch and then he was lifted into the vehicle. Stephen faded into slumber as he was weak from his loss of blood.

He opened his eyes and seemed far away from the feel of concrete. What he was above was soft and warm and on his forehead was a heated face cloth. He was resting on a mattress, and when he sat up he was bandaged wearing only his shady pants and newly changed bandages. His sword was resting beside him and was only within an arm's reach. The open door behind his head meant his rescuer was nearby. Still he felt lightheaded and the clear uneasiness broke his focusing mind. Stephen wondered why someone would help him of all people, if he was clearly in pursuit.

"Could it be a fugitive? No, not that -"

Stephen heard creaks in the floor and a shadow shaded the light from the door. Stephen turned his head and the shadow took off in rapid thumps and muffled speech.

"But who?"

Shortly after he heard the simple cry of a child to their mother and then the footsteps returned but louder this time. Stephen knew it was somebody other than the person who saved him by the gasp of the person he could not see. Stephen felt a heavier uneasiness take his mind as he questioned himself.

"What's going to happen to me?"