His breath felt hot, burning his lungs with each sharp inhale as feet flew across the ground, almost silent as he ran through the crowd. Many cries of outrage could be heard in his wake as Luka barged through people, knocking some to the ground in his haste. But there was no time to stop and offer an apology or help. Even further back his keen ears angry shouts to move and a clanking of metal as guard weapons clanged against other pieces of their gear. They were far enough behind that he couldn’t see them if he looked back, but close enough they were able to follow the trail of confusion and chaos the boy left behind him.

His deep, sharp, blue eyes scanned the buildings rushing past him as his feet practically flew across the ground, his speed hindered only by the people in his way. There were few gaps in the crowd, no alleyways in sight. No place to escape. The bright noon sun was beaming down upon him, sweat dripping from every pore in his body as pain continued to radiate from his side. He couldn’t, or perhaps didn’t want to, think about how long he had been running. Suddenly his eyes widened with surprise as up ahead of him he saw a small gap in the crow, not much but just enough to offer a small chance at maybe a rest.

Quickly the boy darted through the gap that led to a small building, probably a shop, he suspected. Bursting through the door he slammed it behind, breathing heavily his eyes scanned the room he had just entered before they landed on a young woman and they widened in fright. With lightning fast movements he dashed forwards and took a hold of her upper arm in one hand and placed the other over her mouth to stop her from crying out.

“Please,” he managed to gasp out between ragged breaths. “Just… be quiet. I’m not… not going to hurt you.” His eyes flickered to the side for a moment, towards the door and he fell totally silent, holding his breath despite the burning urgency in his lungs as if he was listening to something. However there was nothing to be heard outside, just the usual hustle and bustle of the city. However after a minute or so he seemed satisfied with whatever he was waiting for and took a long gasp for air before returning his attention to the girl before him, which he now realised he was intimately close to, their bodies practically touching in places.

“I’m going to move my hand away.” He said softly, searching her eyes for some kind of sign as he slowly peeled his hand. “Please… don’t scream.” Releasing her and taking a few steps away Luka stood rigidly, his entire body tense like a deer that sensed danger and was ready to flee at a moment’s notice. All it took was one shout, one call for help and people would hear and with the guards so close they would be upon them within minutes. There would be little chance for escape.

Today was meant to be a normal day as per normal in the village, she could hear the commotion outside as she began to shelve a few new items she obtained that morning "These should sell well, then I might be able to get what I need" she smiled happily. Her hair was tied back in a long plait down her back as per normal for her as she finished stacking up everything she heard the door go and turned around only to see an out of breath man breathing heavily and scanning the room. Did he cause the commotion outside? she thought and was about to say something before her mouth was covered automatically grabbing onto his hand and watching him carefully. She nodded when he spoke and said he was going to move his hand away. "What on earth is going on?" she said to him speaking quietly.

"Anyway, for the moment you can hide in the back, I'll deal with them but after that you leave got it?" she said bluntly to him and pushed him into the back quickly and quietly before they came into the shop to search. "I expect an explanation as to what happened as well mister and it best be a good one" She didn't make a sound but even so the guards came crashing in and looking around the shop "Hey what are you doing?!" she yelled as one of them kicked over some stuff "I need to sell this stuff to live, so be careful with it" she sounded angry at them as she stayed behind the counter. "Have you seen anyone suspicious lately, man in late twenties, blue eyes, curly brown hair, tanned" they had just described the man she'd hidden in the back. Rosa sighed "No I have not now leave this shop already you're causing more damage than what I can afford pay off" her arms crossed over her chest as she eyed up the ragged guards who were also panting rather heavily from chasing after Luka.

Luka looked at the girl defiantly as she questioned what was going on, however suddenly began pushing him into the back room, saying shed hide him if he left afterwards, which caught him a lot off guard. Clearly this girl was a strange one. But he knew there was no way he’d be sticking around to offer an explanation. It would just get both of them in more trouble. As he finally came to rest in the back room, Luka sank to the ground, clutching at his stomach, pain radiating under the pressure. It was dark in here, and it smelt of dust, which agitated his nose.

He peeled back his hand for a moment, inspecting the red blood staining his shirt from a rather nasty stab wound he’d received a day or so ago that he hadn’t had time to rest or heal. Blood on his hand that he had left smeared on the girl’s sleeve from where he’d grabbed her… he heard sudden crashes from the other room, the girl protesting angrily. Yep. Strange one that one.

Even as she claimed ignorance to the boy’s whereabouts the guard looked at her suspiciously, his eyes falling to the blood mark on her sleeve. “Really?” He questioned suspiciously. “You two!” He barked quickly. “Watch the girl and the door whilst I search the back!” His eyes turned to glare at her, a silent warning to stay put. If she had appeared afraid he might have suspected she had been forced into this, but if anything she just seemed angry. Maybe she really had nothing to hide, if that was the case then there was no harm. But if she was found to be harbouring a wanted criminal the consequences would be… unpleasant to say the least.

Luka quickly rose to his feet and moved deeper into the store room. He always found it funny how guards announced their plans so boldly and… loudly. It made it all the easier to plan around them. As the man entered the dark room Luka heard him tripping over objects as his eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness. Luka, on the other hand, could see fine. He was easily able to slip up behind the guy and take him by the neck, wrapping one arm around it and squeezing hard. The guard gurgled and struggled by was silent mostly until he fell into unconsciousness and the boy let him slip to the floor. Only two left now.

Rosa frowned and looked to them "Careful in there that is stock for the next few days" she shouted at them her arms crossed over her chest fearlessly as ever. One of them spotted her horse outside and questioned her "It was the foal of my father's mare, so I kept it since I'd need a horse at some point and no you are not taking her with you, she's my mare and I need her to pull the cart for when I collect goods" she frowned at them. The guard snorted and went back when he didn't get a response from the other guard who's been knocked out by Luka. Once inside he struggled to adjust to the darkness but tripped over the other guard and grumbled. "Oi, if he's not here then why is he out cold?" he yelled at her and she sighed "He tripped over and hit his head, it's not uncommon I used to do that in the past" she sighed. Rosa watched but one of them managed to grab Luka and shouted through to the guard with Rose"We've found someone!" he shouted out to them.

He walked over and Rosa felt fear rising in her pretty quickly, she'd rather leave than end up with any of the unpleasant sentences people got for doing so. They tried to pull him out and once that was done they looked to her. "Explain this" "How can I? I didn't even know he was in there" she said bluntly "There is a back door to the store room he must've come in that way" she said to them clearly confident in her words and they were more than enough to give them a run for their money if she and to. "Then explain the blood on your sleeve. "I cut my arm earlier and haven't and time to clean up" she lied. Rosa had her reasons for helping him although they were more personal than anything else.