Alouette gets into Evie's studio, frowning when she doesn't find her sitting behind her desk. She needs to ask her something, but she seems to be nowhere to be found on that day.

She's about to leave when she hears a loud voice coming from Harry's closed door.

"I told you not to do anything!"

Don't do it, she tells herself. She knows she's too curious for her own good, but listening to one of Harry's conversations without his permission is definitely a bad idea.

"Sir, the rural areas around Dacran are struggling! Something must be done!"

Her resolution crumbles to pieces as soon as she hears the mention of her city. They're talking about her home.

She slowly walks closer to the door, curious to hear what they'll say next.

"Doing something would imply only costs and no benefits," a deep voice replies harshly, that she immediately recognises as Harry's.

"There are people living there!"

"There are people everywhere!" He hisses. "They can either deal with it or move to the city, it isn't my problem."

There's a little silence, then the other man speaks again, this time in a calmer manner. "If you say so, sir."

Something else is said in a lower tone that Alouette can't quite grasp, and then she hears someone walking to the door.

She widens her eyes in fear and throws herself under Evie's desk just as the door opens, feeling so scared that she feels sick.

The unknown man walks away and Alouette lets out a relieved sigh, endlessly glad that she was able to hide in time. Now she just has to wait for the door to close again so that she'll be able to leave that corridor once and for all. She should've never stayed, she knows that, but she's always been way too curious for her own good. It's always been an issue, too.

She hears steps nearing the door and brings her hand to her mouth to stifle the sound of her breath in the instant she recognises the cadence.

Harry stops in the frame of the door and even though she can't see him, she can feel his presence close to her. He's quiet, she can't even hear him breathe, and for an instant she believes he's lost in thought.

Then he takes another step forward and his black shoes come into her vision.

Alouette closes her eyes, her heart beating so quickly that she fears he'll hear it too.

He walks to the other end of the desk, grazing the top of it with his blunt nails, slowly, calculatingly, even. Daringly, as if he's challenging her.

The scratching comes to an end when he stops walking, and for an moment there's only silence. Then, he speaks.

"Have you never been told it's impolite to eavesdrop?"

She's sure she feels her heart drop out of her chest as soon as she hears the question and brings her hand to her chest, as if she's trying to manually keep it in there.

"You know, while I find it rather... invigorating, to play hide and seek, I'd prefer to keep it for a different setting from my office. Not during the workday, at least."

She doesn't even notice he's rounding the desk until he's right in front of her, looking at her with those glacial eyes of his.

"I suppose we could work something out though, if you're so keen on hiding."

Alouette feels her cheeks redden at the double meaning hidden between his words, and she's sure she looks like an idiot now, sitting under a desk with her face redder than strawberries.

"I'm sorry?"

He tilts his head. "No, you aren't."

She just looks to the side at the statement, considering hiding under that desk forever after that embarrassment, but then crawls out from under it, standing up and straightening her clothes under Harry's sharp gaze.

"Into my office."

She glances up, but is quick to do what he's asking her to, not wanting to piss him off even more.

He follows her inside and closes the door, and Alouette feels a chill run down her spine in the instant she hears the loud bang of it shutting. Who knew wood could be so loud.

"I find it very disrespectful when people eavesdrop on me, Lark," Harry states behind her, and she holds her breath in fear of what will come next. "I do not tolerate disrespect."

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Styles," she replies, but he doesn't seem impressed.

He walks past her, turning to look at her and leaning back against the desk as she's already seen him do before. "I ask one thing of you," he says lowly, his burning forest green eyes staring at her. "Don't underestimate me, because I'll ruin you. Is that clear?"

The warning shakes a deep fear within her. "That's very clear, sir."

Suddenly, getting her job done doesn't seem as easy as before.

He gives her a slight nod before abruptly changing topic. "I had you looked up online, Lark. I was left rather surprised by what I found."

A part of her dies as soon as he speaks.

"What did you find, sir?" she asks him, her voice shaking a bit.

"Not much, actually." He pushes himself away from the desk and rounds it while he talks, starting to go through some papers he left on the side. "Your grades used to be unusually high and you have a business degree, so I'm not surprised you found a job here."

The tension leaves her body so quickly that for a second she fears she'll fall to the ground. She doesn't remember ever having a business degree, but she can't help but be immensely glad that Ezra made sure to give her a background. He must've known Harry would check, which means that the Revolution is one step ahead of him. For now. It still feels good, though.

"Of course," she replies, and Harry lets out a low hum.

"You're dismissed."

She gets out of the office as soon as he says so, a rush of residual adrenaline still running through her veins from the exchange.

She bumps into Evie in the corridor and she stops her, suddenly remembering her task.

"I was wondering if I could go out in the city? I'm starting to feel a bit suffocated in here."

Evie sighs. "Technically you can, you should take one of the guards with you, though. It isn't safe for us to go alone."

"Any chance I could take Nathan?" Alouette asks, realising a second too late what she did. "Uh, I mean, he was the one that brought me here on the first day, so at least I'm familiar with him and he isn't a total stranger... you know," she rushes to cover up her mistake.

Evie nods, and she knows she accepted her explanation. "Sure thing, I'll call downstairs to let them know."

"Thank you so much," Alouette replies, giving her a warm smile, and Evie smiles back.

"It's nothing. I should see if Mr. Styles needs anything, now."

She walks away and Alouette too goes on her way, unable to keep the giddiness she's feeling under control.

She finally has a chance to get the hell out of that place, and she couldn't be happier about it.

• • •

Alouette walks behind Nathan as they make their way out of the gates, not being able to push away a wave of residual stress as they pass between the guards.

She's been in the palace for a couple of weeks now, but she still gets uneasy when she sees them. She was raised to fear them, after all. It's weird to think that their job is to protect her now, too. They probably wouldn't if they knew who she truly is. Thankfully though, her secret seems to be safe.

For now.

"Stay close to me, alright?" Nathan tells her carefully as soon as they're out on the street, "Northfair isn't a safe place, especially for a young girl that works in the presidential residence."

Alouette nods. She was hoping to get some time for herself in the city, but she's aware of the risk.

"We're going to one of the offices to take some folders, and then to my address to see if the Revolution sent something, okay?" He continues after she catches up to him, speaking quietly into her ear.

She sighs. His plan doesn't seem the most thrilling, but she'll take what she can get. She just needs to get out of that place for a little while, she feels constantly scrutinised there.

She misses the freedom she had at the Revolution. It wasn't much and she was always busy, but at least she didn't have to pretend.

Nathan crosses the street when the traffic stops for some seconds, urging her to rush behind him.

As always, the city is chaotic.

It's early in the evening, so the majority of the population is trying to get back home after a long day at work, and the rest is starting just now to leave their small apartments.

The result of that is a thick, loud crowd of people chatting away into their phone, looking at the screen, listening to music or, in the rarest cases, talking to each other. Alouette has to shamefully get a hold of Nathan's coat not to lose him.

There are some fights here and there, surely originated from the stress or lack or resources the most of them have, but he walks past them, not caring enough to stop and break them up.

The luminescence of the huge commercials plastered on the side of the buildings, above their head, is enhanced by the deep darkening blue of the sky, illuminating the street below with a ghostly multi-coloured shade.

Alouette would've been impressed by it a long time ago, but now she knows that the brighter the city is, the darker and more insignificant the lives of the citizens are.

It's easy to believe that everyone holds a purpose in a world as structured as theirs, but the truth is quite different. As you would with a faulty cogwheel in a mechanical clock, people too can be replaced. If you don't do what you're supposed to do, somebody else will take your place. The only thing that matters is the clock, not the cogs that make up its mechanism.

It's a scary knowledge to have. But nobody really cares, because everyone is busy trying to make a living and thinking isn't so mainstream anymore.

It's alarming how quickly people can lose their grasp on reality in a world that promotes escapism.

But it doesn't matter how much that man from the commercial hypes up all the products she should absolutely buy, Alouette isn't sure a new hairdryer will do much to ease the feeling of worthlessness buried deep within her.

Is she walking amongst people, or ghosts? She doesn't know anymore. If there's a difference, at all.

Nathan stops in front of a glass door and so does she, the fluorescent yellow light of the banner right above it enlightens the side of her face, making her eyes slightly hurt.

"I'll be right out, wait here," he warns her, opening the glass door and walking inside.

She tilts her head, observing his tall figure as he makes his way to the desk, knocking down on it when the woman behind it seems to be too taken by the screen of her computer to notice his presence.

Alouette turns around and looks at the street, enjoying the different burn every single one of the colours of the commercials and banners make her feel in her eyes in a masochistic way. Just a big crowd of people walking under an even bigger crowd of lights.

The sky is now of a cobalt blue shade, and the city shines under it as a gem does under the sunlight. She wonders if it looks like a star, from the depths of the aether. A spectral star, that illuminates someone else's world just like Sirius enlightens theirs.

The flux of people has now become continuous, she enjoys standing on the side and observing them as they walk by. They all seem to be caught up in their own world, crashing against each other from time to time just to part again with a whispered apology, speedily moving down the dirty street.

It's hard to keep a city clean when that many people are going around at the same time. Soon the night cleaners will be out though, and by tomorrow morning the most important roads and squares will be as perfect as new. The rest, however... every source of light inevitably produces shadows.

She watches how people kick around the tissues, pieces of paper, paper glasses and food containers as they go back home, none of them stopping to pick them up, and also knowing they'd be run over by the ones behind them if they dared to stop walking.

The street is dark and dirty and so are the buildings, some old, some newer, but you can't even notice it in the unnatural light coming from the screens.

She sighs when the smell of food hits her nose, feeling her stomach grumble even though it's too early for dinner. She wonders if it'd be a good idea to get some take out to eat while she's out there, but then decides not to. She wouldn't know where to throw it away, and Nathan told her to stay there.

So that's what she does, observing everyone that walks past her and wondering what it would be like to be them. She wonders what's their story, if there's someone waiting for them at home. If they have a pet, if they have children. She can't understand people that choose to have kids, she never did. There's nothing to bring them into the world for anymore, just a suffocated life in a shiny city. The appearance might be wonderful but so is every jewel, and she's sure the gemstones nestled into it could tell another story.

"Here I am," she suddenly hears someone say behind her and turns around quickly, smiling a little when she recognises Nathan. "We have one more place to go to and then we can go back."

Alouette is a bit saddened by his words, but she also knows he's needed back at the palace, so can't stay out for long. She wonders what it'd be like to go out on her own and not have to worry about anyone else's deadlines.

"I absolutely mean it, Lark, stay close to me," he warns her as they go back to walking, "I had to get an address in the shady part of the city to receive information from the Revolution safely."

"Okay."

She's right next to him as they enter the crowd again, only putting some distance between them again when he takes a turn into a small street on the side.

They walk through the loud alleys quickly, and Alouette smiles to herself a bit as she listens to the sounds all around her.

The street is in the poor side of the city, squeezed between two tall buildings, and there are no obnoxious commercials there, only more banners than she can count that advertise all the small businesses around her, many of which she's sure aren't really legal. She doesn't mind though, considering that there are only few things that are legal in their world, and she too lives in the illegal side of it.

Many of the windows are open and she can hear voices and music of all kinds coming from the flats, some screaming, some laughing, some arguing, some complaining. It all seems way more lively than on the main street, as if people are less afraid to be themselves here, where there's nobody to judge them.

The people they see out in the alleys look at them suspiciously, shifting away or walking into their buildings at times, looking at them curiously others. Dressed how they are, it's clear that they don't really fit there.

There are a few children playing with a ball ahead on the street, but they're quickly called in as they walk past and escape behind a curtain before Alouette can see their faces.

An old man is sitting outside his home, or shop, meddling with something that looks like some kind of phone in an attempt to fix it so that he won't have to spend more than he can afford to get a new one. He looks up at her in silence as she walks past, a glassy, milky film over one of his eyes.

Above them, a woman is hanging some shirts to dry on a rope shakily tied between two balconies. She stops for a second when she sees them, but resumes her work right after, a bit more determined than before.

There's chaos there, but it feels more homely, too. She feels less observed. Everyone seems to care less about others and more about themselves there, happily coexisting while minding their own business. It feels liberating.

After a while Nathan tells her to stop in front of a building and gives her a sharp look. "I'll be right down," he says, the suggestive look adding what he isn't saying, and Alouette nods.

"I'll wait here."

Nathan walks inside, leaving her alone, and she crosses her arms, glancing around in silence while also trying not to be too curious, knowing that the people around there like their privacy.

She's suddenly distracted by a tabby cat, that walks down the street, tail up high and something in its mouth, without a care for anybody before disappearing around the corner.

She should ignore it and move on, she knows that.

But she likes cats.

Before she even realises it, she's abandoning her spot next to the obnoxiously green front door and following the animal, turning the corner as well. She looks around again, frowning a bit when she can't see it, and takes some steps forward, smiling again when she spots it turning another corner.

She goes right after it again, tilting her head when she sees it jump on a tall garbage can and from there on a low balcony, entering the apartment from the window.

Alouette sighs at her failed cat experience and turns around, going back to the other street. She takes the first turn and walks down the alley for a little while before suddenly realising it isn't where she came from. It isn't the street where Nathan told her to wait, and stupidly enough she didn't even check its name, so she's screwed.

She tries to go back again, but only ends up on another alley never seen before, and she's starting to get visibly anxious now.

She can't be lost.

Nathan will get so mad.

How will she find him? She didn't bring her phone.

What happens now?

She starts walking faster, but all she seems to be doing is walking in circles, each time either ending up on the starting spot or in an entirely new alley. They all mix together and she can't tell which is which, anymore. They all look the same.

She keeps going around, trying to look as calm as possible, knowing it's a bad idea to appear clueless in that side of the city. She has to find a way back.

All of a sudden she turns into a new alley, and stops in her tracks when she realises it's completely empty. There aren't even many banners and the sky is now of a dark blue, which means that street is enveloped in the shadows.

Alouette furrows her eyebrows, but walks through it anyway, taking the first turn she finds in hopes of finding her way back, but ends up in another dark street.

This one isn't as empty as before, but she wishes it was. There are some people, mostly men, here and there close to the doors of the building, lowly talking to each other. There's a low beat in the air and a few neon banners shining intermittently projecting coloured ghosts onto the asphalt.

She slows her pace, gulping when some of the people seem to turn to look in her direction. She doesn't know if she's imagining it or not, but it sends a glacial feeling into her bones either way.

She shouldn't be there.

She really, really shouldn't be there.

Alouette takes a deep breath, taking notice of the fact that she's in the middle of the street. She can't stay there, so she either has to walk forward, or back. She can do it.

She turns her head and then looks in front of her, realising that the quickest way to get the hell out of there is to walk forward, and then keeps walking, uneasiness in her step. Her heart is beating wildly against her rib cage and she's sure everyone can see she's panicking, but she tries to hold it together at best.

She's so taken by the turmoil that's happening inside of her that she doesn't even notice them, at first.

But then she looks up and freezes in her spot.

There are two figures walking towards her, one very tall and strong, the other just a little shorter.

She doesn't even need to take in the black suit the second one is wearing to recognise him, the way he's walking impossible to forget.

It's Harry.

But what is Harry doing there, in that dark alley? That's surely no place for him to be. It's dangerous.

Alouette quickly moves to the side of the street so that she won't be as noticeable, frowning as she watches the other two.

They stop in front of a door and the taller one opens it as Harry stands a little behind, brushing his fingers through his dark hair. She can see the shadow the orange light of the banner projects right under his jawline from where she's standing.

He seems so out of place there, standing in the middle of an obscure, shady street while wearing his perfectly ironed black suit, but he doesn't act like he is.

He seems to be just as home there as he is in his studio, if not more, and that realisation terrifies her for some reason she can't pinpoint.

The other man keeps the door open for Harry and he walks in confidently, followed by the other mysterious figure.

Just as quickly as they first appeared, they're gone again.

Alouette feels the sudden need to follow them inside to see what they're doing, even though she knows it's the epitome of a bad idea.

Before she can make a single move, though, a hand lands on her shoulder, making her eyes widen in sheer panic.

"I finally found you, looked for you everywhere."

She relaxes when she recognises Nathan's voice and takes a deep breath to calm her quickened heartbeat, turning around and feeling immensely glad to see his face.

"There was a cat, and I followed it, and it disappeared, and then the street... Harry-" she starts to explain, trying to make sense of what she saw, but he interrupts her quickly.

"I told you this place is dangerous. You're lucky nothing happened." Keeping his hand on her shoulder, he takes her to the other end of the street, sending a suspicious look to the men on the side of the street. "You can't go wandering around!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't know..." she apologises, but it seems a bit pointless to do it now.

"I told you, Lark! You have to be careful," he hisses, "I know you're used to living in the controlled environment of you know what and the palace, but this is real life. Bad things happen every day, here, and there's nobody that will risk their life to save yours."

"Okay," she just replies, not knowing what else he wants from her.

He sighs at her one-word answer but keeps walking, only slowing down when they reach a more crowded street.

She tries not to think about it, but as they go back to the palace the only thing on her mind is Harry all the same.

What was he doing there?

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. x
Miki