While North kept on the lookout for drones, you unclipped a bobby pin from you hair and attempted to pick the lock.

"You're not really good at this." Markus studied carefully as you fumbled and dropped it.

"Well, so sorry to disappoint you but I only seen Leo do it once." You went on your knees and dug through the heavy snow, where the clip had fell, and Markus joined you.

"I have it." His hands brushed past yours, and you held your breath. What's this feeling? It was as if your heart had skipped a beat, except... You didn't have one.

With a swift movement, he had picked the lock and cautiously pushed the shutters up.

"We need to do this quick, before the police notice." He gestured for you to go ahead, and you entered the store, blinded by the dizzying array of flashing lights.

"Wow, I'm having dejavu." You joked lightly, but you immediately shut up after the serious look he gave you.

Leaning against the glass panels, your eyes went to a small boy android on a circular stand.

YK 500.

Child androids for sale now!

Wait, what?

He was encased in clear glass, but he looked so trapped, eyes wide in fear and lips turned to a sad frown.

What the actual fuck... That used to be me... That was me.

Markus was still busy converting androids at a snail's pace, and telling them to go to Jericho.

Outside, nightlife activities were dead, but you swore you could hear the faint blaring of sirens. Shit, the cops were coming soon. You glanced at the child android again, then to the roads.

Three minutes until police arrives.

There is not enough time.

You breathing quickened, and you knew you had to make a choice. Markus wasn't going to be fast enough to reach the YK 500.

The sirens got louder, and you heard North swore loudly, waving her hands and screaming at the two of you to get out.

But there were still androids not freed, in their transparent cases like coffins, ready to be sent to be a dead slave, and your head began to throb, suddenly aware of how they needed to be alive, freed.

You brought your arm to the glass and began smashing, the shards littering the marble tiles.

Faster, faster.

I need more time

Thirty seconds until police arrives.

North was screaming to get out and run, to stop, but her shrieks faded to white noise, the only thing pulsing through your mind was all the horrible pain from breaking the glass, and how the child android wasn't going to make it.

I don't want him to end up like me.

I need to free him.

No matter what.

You slammed your body against the case, and agonising pain shot through your body.

Limb damaged.

But there was still three left, and you was determined to keep fighting.

The blue blood stained your skin, and the new wounds felt like they were tearing you apart. You braced yourself and threw your body at it again, biting your lips to keep from yelling.

But if I don't save him, no one will.

"(Y/N)!" Markus grabbed you away from the display, but you screamed at him to let you go, punching him in the shoulder.

He gasped and doubled over, groaning in pain, but you turned your attention to the YK.

Grab his hand.

Be freed.

Its eyes opened, full of life and realisation, as if it had awaken from a deep slumber.

Your vision was blurry from tears, but relief flooded through you.

"Thank you for freeing me." His LED blinked red, then yellow.

"The police are coming. We should go." Markus grabbed you and the boy, while North was waiting impatiently at the exit.

Together, with the freed androids following closely behind, you made your way into the night.

You had never felt so alive.