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Her legs felt numb as they tried to keep up with her mother's pace, the older woman more determined to get the pair to safety. Hotaru couldn't stop looking at the carnage they were running from, but eventually, she turned her head in the direction they were going. How was her mother so calm during all this? People were running around like chickens without heads, but the woman was perfectly focused, even determined to get them to safety. Meanwhile, Hotaru was clearly afraid, and she felt like she was going to drown in panic. It looked like she wasn't the only one panicking, however, as she spotted a crowd trying to push their way through the streets. Rather than push through, her mother turned into an alleyway, her grip firm on Hotaru's hand. Hotaru felt her legs give way, but her mother managed to keep her from falling. "Just focus on me," Her mother's voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Just a little longer...we have to keep moving, do you understand? Even if your legs are tired, we need to keep running."

Of course they did. If they stopped even for a moment, the masses would probably run them over in their rush to safety. Hotaru nodded, feeling slightly calmer, though she held onto her mother's hand as tightly as she could. "[color=crimson]Y-Yes![/color]" She replied, inhaling deeply in an attempt to keep up. As the pair turned the corner, her mother came to a halt and Hotaru ended up bumping right into her. As she tried to catch her breath, she noticed a man standing there, almost like he had been waiting for them. "This way, quickly!" He urged the pair.

There was something in the way the man looked at her that Hotaru didn't like. His eyes were much too focused among the panicked people, too calculated. She could feel a pit form in her stomach as she unknowingly took a step back, letting go of her mother's hand. Her mother took her eyes off the man to look at Hotaru, her stern expression returning. But Hotaru wasn't looking at her, her own eyes never leaving the man's, and she felt everything slow down immensely as she noticed another man behind him with the same expression. As her mother had her back turned, the man closest to them took advantage, raising his arm to reveal what looked like knife. "[color=crimson]Mother--![/color]" The word had scarcely left her mouth, and it was like everything happened at once. Hands much stronger than hers lifted her off the ground, leaving her dangling in the air as the man's arm was brought down, striking her mother with the hilt of his weapon. She fell soundlessly to the ground, her body limp as she was picked up by the other man.

"[color=crimson]Mother![/color]" Hotaru screamed, though she got no response as she was taken away against her will. She felt like a doll as she tried to free herself, struggling uselessly against someone twice her size and many times stronger. Her brain told her to yell for help, to shout for someone, anyone to come. But who was going to notice among the chaos of the titans? 

Letting out a sigh, the armed man approached her, roughly grabbing her face. "Look at this face! You don't see this every day!" He seemed giddy, his eyes examining her facial features intensely. Opening her mouth, Hotaru bit down on his fingers as hard as she could, the taste of blood on her mouth as he let out a shout of pain. Ripping his hand from her, he brought it back as he slapped her in response. "Damn kid--let's get going," He grumbled as the other two couldn't help but grin at their partner's misfortune.