Liliya felt empty when her footsteps echoed through the night. She'd been crying all day, as she'd arranged for her mum to be taken to the funeral home. They'd helped her set things up for the funeral too, giving her tissues every time she burst into tears. She must've gone through an entire pack of them. Even just a few hours ago she'd been standing over the open coffin, thanking her mother for everything she'd done. For raising her to make the right choices.

But now, at ten to twelve, she'd turned hollow. There were no more tears left to cry.

Her legs moved on autopilot through the city, the same route she'd walked so many times before. Manassa wasn't as pretty anymore. Liliya had lived here all her life, always finding the bright streetlights hiding the sky from view and the packed-together buildings charming. Now, it felt suffocating, claustrophobic, like a giant had built a wall of blocks around her and closed her in. The streetlights were spotlights he shone on her.

As she approached the library, she glanced around. She wasn't entirely sure that she hadn't been followed. Not only did that crazy woman know where she lived, Kit had been acting strange all day as well.

When Kit had come back later that afternoon, it turned out Nyron had managed to escape. Liliya didn't want to ask how, because she was afraid it would seem too eager. Kit had asked again whether she knew he'd been there, and she'd lied again. This time, though she didn't want to say anything while her best friend was arranging her mum's funeral, the disbelief was clear in her eyes.

Kit didn't trust her.

Her mum was gone, her boyfriend was a fugitive and her best friend didn't trust her.

When had the world become so awful?

Hiding in the shadows of an old and gnarled tree just behind the library building, she waited. The cold of the night air made her shiver. She flinched every time an owl hooted or someone shouted something far away.

Midnight came and went.

The cold seeped deep into her limbs, making her bones stiffen.

When a crunching came from her right, Liliya crouched down, peering around the tree trunk. It was too dark to see anything. Or anyone.

Another crunch, and then, "Liliya? Where are you?"

A wave of relief flowed through her. She stepped out of the shadows throwing her arms around his shoulders.

Nyron froze for a moment, startled from the sudden movement, but he soon hugged her back.

"Hey," he whispered into her neck. "Are you okay?"

"Not really," she said, swallowing fresh tears down.

His arms wrapped tighter around her. "I'm sorry."

"They said they'd caught you," said Liliya. "Over the radio."

"Nah. They just thought they did."

Liliya chuckled, breathing in the sweet smell of his coat.

It felt as if her heart broke into a thousand tiny pieces when he pulled away.

"I don't think I have a lot of time," he muttered. "I thought I could shake them, but they've been after me all day."

She nodded, trying her best not to break down in front of him. "Can I come with you?"

Surprise flashed through his eyes. "Come with me? But you don't know where I'm going."

"It doesn't matter," said Liliya. "I can't stay here. I need a fresh start. And I want to stay with you."

His lips curled into a smile as he pressed a kiss on her forehead. "I'd love for you to come with me."

Worry slipped away as she exhaled. They'd be together. Everything would be alright. "What are you going to do?"

"Actually..." He hesitated. "I was hoping you could help me."

She'd barely been able to raise her eyebrows at him, when a siren screeched through the air and a sudden bright light illuminated them.

"Run!"

Nyron grabbed her hand and they broke into a sprint. They hadn't made it to the corner of the building when someone stepped out from behind it, gun raised.

"Kit?"

With one smooth movement Nyron grabbed Liliya by her waist and pulled her in front of him, like a human shield. "Play along," he whispered, then shouted, "Stay back!"

"Let her go!" Kit growled.

Eyes wide, Liliya fought against the arm around her throat. "What are you doing? Stop!"

"How did you find me?" said Nyron, before whispering, "Trust me."

"Anonymous tip," said Kit.

Only when she stopped struggling did Liliya notice how he slowly but surely pushed her towards the corner.

"Anonymous...? That damn woman!"

Liliya glanced from Kit to the corner of the library building, unable to see what Nyron was aiming for. "Do you even have a plan?" she muttered.

"I have... the capacity to think of one," he said defensively.

"I won't let you walk out of this one," Kit threatened. "Just let her go."

"So... Round the corner and run then?"

"I think that's gonna be it," he agreed. "You sure she won't shoot at you?"

"Hundred percent. Stay in front of me."

As soon as they reached the corner, Nyron grabbed her hand and they fled, jumping behind plants and diving around corners to stay out of vision as much as possible. An unexplainable burst of giggles crawled up Liliya's throat as they sprinted through the city, police on their heels. Even Kit screaming in frustration and worry didn't affect her the way she knew it should. While her legs hurt from exertion, the wind in her hair made her feel... free.

Free from the burden of having to find a job. Free from the fear for Nyron's safety. Free from the grief of her mother's death. It was still there, but not as strongly now. Not as painfully.

Even if it was for just a few moments.

"What are you doing?" Nyron shouted over his shoulder.

"Nothing. Just keep running!" Liliya laughed.

She didn't know where they were going. It was a good thing Nyron lead the way, because she wasn't paying attention to anything but running itself.

At one point Nyron pulled her along into a flat. They stomped up the stairs as the door downstairs opened again. Nyron pressed a finger to his lips and Liliya put a hand over her mouth to stop her own noise. They snuck further up the stairs, feet tapping on the creaking steps.

"In here," he said, pulling her through a door.

At first she figured it was a broom closet or a janitor's closet, but it turned out to be a proper apartment.

"Please tell me we didn't just break into a stranger's house," she muttered, closing the door behind her.

"No," said Nyron, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. "This is the guys' safehouse. Don't ask."

"I don't even want to know. What's your plan? You have a plan, don't you?" She walked hesitantly into the living room. It was bare except for some rickety plastic chairs. The wallpaper was ripped off in several places and there were mold stains in the corners of the walls.

"Yes," said Nyron. "Sort of."

"What's that supposed to mean?" The adrenaline of the chase had worn off, and the reality of what they were doing hit her all the more. The cops didn't know which apartment they were in, but they'd search each and every one of them until they'd found them. It was just a matter of time.

By way of answer he pulled a few sheets of folded, heavily creased paper from his pocket.

"What's that?"

She took them and folded them open, glancing over the words. "Is this... For fuck's sake, Nyron, are you going to waste what might be our last moments with your fairytales?"

"No! Look." Nyron smoothed the pages he'd ripped from the library books and pointed at one of the diagrams at the bottom. "This doesn't just tell a story, Liliya. It shows how to get there. These pages contain the ritual of how to get to Cloud Kingdom. Now, I don't really understand this, but you have experience with–"

"Nyron, listen to me! Cloud Kingdom is a children's tale! It doesn't exist!"

He clapped his hands together as if in prayer, giving Liliya his most pleasing look. "Can you just read through it? Try it out? For me? If it doesn't work, I owe you a massive apology. But just... Just try it. Please?"

She let out a loud groan. "Alright. But if we get caught because of this, I'm going to tell them you kidnapped me."

A smile broke out on his face. "Absolutely. I'll take all the blame."

As she sat down on the floor and spread out the pages in front of her, she knew she'd never actually blame everything on him. She had no idea what she'd do if they got caught, but she'd do everything to try and save him from whatever fate the law had planned for him.

A frown appeared on her face as she studied the pages. "Hmm, well it looks like a proper teleportation spell. I don't know where it leads, but it should at least get us away from here. Pretty far away in fact, judging from these marks." She traced the lines with her index finger. "It's gonna take some time though."

"I figured it would," Nyron nodded. "You stay here and work on the portal. I'll distract them. Oh, you'll need this." He tossed her a piece of white chalk.

"Woah, wait, what? You're going back out there? What if they catch you?"

Nyron smiled and bent down to give her a kiss on the top of her head. "I got this."

As he approached the door, Liliya said, "I am not stepping through that portal alone, I have no idea where it leads. You better come back."

He left the room with a quick wave and a confident grin.

She sighed in frustration. This creaky old room gave her the creeps. Was it really such a good idea to split up? With a final shake of her head, she grabbed the chalk from the floor next to her and set to work.