After running through crowds, narrow alleys, and sewers, the girl brought Kokona into an empty building. Its walls were cracked, windows shattered or missing, and grass grew wildly on some floors. Carefully she put down Kokona, who now stopped crying after doing it nonstop along the way.

"Sorry, are you okay?"

"Hu…"

"Hu?"

"HUUUUAAAAAA!"

"Eeeeh…."

Kokona bawled her eyes out. The girl tried her best to calm Kokona down, but nothing worked. Running out of ideas, she chose to point her rifle towards Kokona, which caused her to shriek.

"One more cry out of your mouth, and you will bring those mercs here. If you want to survive, shut up and listen to me."

"Unnn…Shun nee-san…"

"Hm?"

The rifle went up to her face again.

"Al-Alright...I will be quiet..."

Kokona lowered her head as to try keeping her mouth shut as well to stop crying. She figured that she should have gone home, so she would not be dragged into this mess. The girl took of her mask and tapped Kokona's shoulder.

"Sorry to scare you. I was in a pinch and all I thought was a distraction. You were in the wrong place and the wrong time, but I was responsible on dragging you here."

Kokona didn't respond, and the girl sighed.

"Are you hurt?"

Kokona shook her head.

"Are you thirsty?"

Kokona shook her head again.

"Then what do you want?"

That one question broke the floodgates of Kokona's tear ducts.

"I WANNA GO HOME HUAAAAAAAAAA!"

Kokona cried because she just couldn't take it anymore, and the girl almost raised her rifle again before stopping herself to just putting her index finger in front of her lips.

"Shuuuuuush. I heard voices outside."

Kokona sniffled, but she nodded and covered her mouth so she would not make any sound. The girl rested her back behind the wall while stealing glances from the windows. The thugs and the part time workers began entering the courtyard of the empty complex. Judging from their movements, they were in alert to sneak attack from any directions.

"Looks like we are not spotted yet. Just stay quiet, and I will get you out of here. Understood?"

This time, Kokona nodded obediently. The girl's smile could be seen before putting on her mask again. Then her eyes widened, and she held her calf. Her left eye closed, and she bit her lip. A worried Kokona took the girl's hand and a spot of red painted her white palm.

"You are hurt!"

"It's nothing, just a scratch. Urgh!"

As she tried to stand up, she fell down to her knees instantly. Kokona took out first aid kit and bandages from her bag, and began treating the girl's wound.

"What are you-"

"Leave this to me. I may be small, but I am used to take care of injured children."

"But I am no children..."

The girl wanted to protest, but Kokona was too focused on treating her wound. Eventually she just let Kokona handle it due to the fact that the pain had become unbearable. Not long after, she could feel her pain eased up and a smug Kokona looked proud at her job. The girl was about to walk until Kokona held her hand.

"It's best for onee-san to sit for now. We don't want your wound to open."

"O-Okay…"

She decided to just follow Kokona's instruction and sat on top of a falling pillar with Kokona sat across her on top of a box. Inside an abandoned building, silence greeted nobody else but the two. They waited until the footsteps of thugs were gone. After five minutes, a shout of order to move places rang out followed by hurried footsteps leaving the perimeter. Once there was no more sound, they both heaved out a sigh.

"Alright...I think the coast is clear now. We'd better leave this place before they come back."

"Um...does onee-san know the right way out?"

Kokona's question was answered with short two blinks. The girl pressed her temple as she was unsure whether to speak frankly or assured her with lies. She chose to do the former.

"Honestly, no. I don't know where are we right now. I knew several spots nearby for hiding, but not this one. Also my leg is on its last leg, he he."

Unbeknown to Kokona, the girl just did something uncharacteristic to ease up her worry. Kokona was confused but she put her fingers under her chin and nodded.

"I see. I suppose we could try going to the ground floor. Just to make sure if there are scouts stationed nearby."

"Perceptive for someone your age. Okay, I will follow you."

With careful steps, they went downstairs to scan the perimeter. They could not go fast, as the masked girl was still injured and needed to walk slowly. By the time they reached the ground floor, the girl noticed an emergency door. Curious, she asked Kokona to standby as she went to check where the door lead to. While waiting, Kokona took a peek from the gap and window. Her small frame was helpful to conceal her presence. Suddenly her pupil widened and instinctively she closed her mouth to silent her gasp. She was about to ran but she missed her footing and flew towards the stairs. She braced herself for impact as she closed her eyes but she screamed as loud as she can.

"KYAAA!"

But the impact never came.

"Huh? What happened?"

The girl was grabbing to Kokona's coat, and Kokona's gaze met the blue fiery glare of the girl. Without speaking a word, Kokona just realized her scream gave out their location.

" I HEARD A SCREAM JUST NOW!"

" THAT BUILDING! SURROUND IT! "

Thunderous marching footsteps went closer to the building. Their sneak escape plan was a failure, and Kokona's tear fell again.

"Stop crying! I found a way from through that door, but things change drastically now. We need a strategy to divert their attention."

Tried to regain her composure, Kokona wiped her tears and asked to be put down. Once she felt better, she asked the girl,

"I'm okay now onee-san. So mind explaining where that door leads to?"

"Ah. That door lead to basement, but we need to climb down. It doesn't look far. My prediction is that this should lead us to the waste waterway and the heater machine. If we are lucky, there should be a door to the outside area."

Kokona nodded in gratitude, but a look of concern painted her round face as she noticed the mobs outside.

"They are getting closer. We are running out of time"

"No kidding. I am almost out of ammo, and we don't have rations left."

"You are right."

Kokona slumped down in despair. There might be a chance of going through that door, but there was no certainty that the enemy would set up an ambush through potential way out. Then, she felt her shoulder was tapped again. This time, those blue eyes didn't glare at her, but assured her with confidence.

"I have an idea, but this might sound a bit crazy. I can't guarantee that we all can survive. One thing for sure, this will incapacitate them for a while."

"Really?" Kokona felt a glimmer of hope from the nodding response of the girl. She asked for Kokona's ear to whisper.

"What you need to do now is..."

Thus began an escape plan born from cooperation of two souls who had just met. Forcing to rely only to each other, their trust and believe in leaving their safety to others will be tested in the coming event.