Dr. Exor paced quickly, chasing 296 behind.

"Where are you going?" He asked, his limbs stretching to catch up with her. We were supposed to start the experiment minutes ago. We were supposed to go there quickly before... He grabbed her by her wrist.

"Away from you." She turned and scowled at him with a pained expression as she pushed and jerked him away. Pain, because she knew her life meant nothing to her now without Dr. Exor's repaid appreciation for him. Pain, because she felt betrayed and angered and only now wants to run away.

And pain, because it was hard for her to slam the door and pull away.

"YOU ARE STILL A NUMBER!" 296 ran as fast as she could, Dr. Exor yelling behind her. "GET BACK HERE!"

"NO!" she shrieked, her bare feet leaping from the cold floors.

But these cold floors were starting to heat up.

And burn.

#

Heski whacked the Throne House with one last bash! from his hammer. He panted as he stared at a few passerby around. Leiyun shook her hands and grunted.

"I think the Throne House is destroyed enough," she said. She glanced around at the passerby, thinning out from fifty to ten to six to none at all. They all scattered. Leiyun even knew some of these people from the Bakery. She was going to get fired for sure.

"I'm surprised that the Qa isn't here," Kario examined the crumbled walls that sat on the grass.

"Better if it's that way." Heski commented. "Then we could go to the Manor without her knowing." He glanced up at Bhun Uyi. "We're heading up to the Manor now?"

"We can get some water first." Bhun Uyi replied. "To freshen ourselves up and then—"

Kario watched a gray smoke waver past his nose. His eyebrows bounced, and he turned his head as Leiyun coughed.

"Aham, aham." She turned her head and craned it to various places. "Fire. Oh dear. Where's that coming from?"

Heski and Bhun Uyi turned their heads and Heski pointed to a white building. Blocky, white, with a dirt-covered perimeter.

And fire. Red and orange, hand in hand. Dancing in the building and eating every number and inch inside. Heski turned to the others and yelled. "Well maybe we need to get water for that building! We can't leave those people burning inside!"

Bhun Uyi glanced at Leiyun. "You and Kario save as many people as you can in there. Heski and I will get water to put the fire out."

#

Leiyun ran around the perimeter of the building, averting her gaze every so often for a window. Or a door. But she couldn't find any in there. It was literally like a block. She turned to Kario and panted, her breath coming out as a cry.

"Did you find any doors? Anything? They're going to die in there!" She glanced at Kario.

"I managed to find one, but it closed off before I could save more people."

"You were able to get someone out?!"

"Only a few. And they managed to run away from the fire. And before the exit got blocked."

"Okay, okay, okay." Leiyun's eyes darted around frantically, her heart pounding and beating loudly. BUM. BUM. BUM. BUM. It kept going, fast and running. Was there any more exits? She wondered. Kario patted her shoulder before she pointed at a small door, near a corner of the closed-off building.

"There. THERE!" She grabbed Kario's arm. "We have to go there! There could still be more people inside!" She dashed on the grass, her hair soaking up the smell of ash and smoke. Kario ran behind her, his feet leaping. Blam, blam, blam! Leiyun and Kario raced to the door.

And they panted and raced and zoomed. Kario knew he had to help as many people as he could.

And Leiyun knew that no one in that building should be left behind to burn.

#

Bhun Uyi thrusted the bucket into the flame. He held tightly on the handle. The water splashed! into the flame with a big floosh!

"Heski, I need you to get more water." Bhun Uyi handed him the bucket. He could hardly see Heski in the smoke. He was fogged by the wisps of gray and the hungry flame. Heski took the bucket and raced away, to a nearby river near the walls that bordered Oceanuris.

Bhun Uyi waved his hand and coughed. This is where the source of the flame was. He glanced around at the surrounding area, which was wet and black and ashes that no longer burned. This was the last place he and Heski needed to put out. He examined the area and waved his hand again. There was rubble everywhere, in ashes and coal. It hadn't gotten to the point where the entire building collapsed. But he betted that certain areas were already reaching that point.

He gulped. The fire only reminded him of the one that happened back at his home. A destruction by flame. Was this what the Manor's fire was going to look like? Then we'd definitely have to bring some water buckets to throw it out. Heski placed a few buckets down, splashing one onto the fire before running away to the nearby river.

And Bhun Uyi splashed another bucket of water into the fire, as it sizzled and cried before roaring again.

He had to keep going. If he left to create a better world regarding Valencia, he'd be no better than her by ignoring the destruction.

#

Dr. Exor smelled smoke and examined the hallway, which was now fogged in gray gas and sparks and...fire. Dr. Exor spotted an open room with bright shades of red and orange and yellow, clinging and eating everything.

"Dr. Exor!" One of the scientists ran up to him with a worried expression. "Where were you and 296?! You were supposed to be quick!"

Dr. Exor's mouth gaped and hung before a nearby cabinet fell on the scientist. BANG! It fell heavily–with a whoosh! as the flame spreaded–consuming him whole. The folders all burned and flew before sinking to ash.

Dr. Exor stepped back and ran away, chasing after 296.

"296!" Dr. Exor yelled from afar. But 296 paid no attention. Her legs ran faster than she could've ever dreamed, racing past broken equipment and gray folders. This "world" of hers was behind and in a blur as 296 kept going. The smell of smoke lingered in her nose and passed, sparks flew on her hair and near her feet as she stepped it out, and her white dress stained with the colors of ash and coal. She could even taste the ashy smell in her mouth. But she ran. And kept going. She knew she definitely couldn't stay anymore. Not with the fire. Not in this "world".

And most certainly not with Dr. Exor. She couldn't trust him and praise him like she used to. She couldn't live her life based on his rules anymore, or even say that was her purpose.

She'd rather burn alive in here.

296's feet stopped as she saw the door. The same door that Harpostia last walked out of.

Dr. Exor ran in the hallway, not far behind from 296.

"OPEN THE DOOR!" He hollered at her as he ran.

296 pinned her back on the door and held the knob. Her other arm stretched to block the door. If she walked outside, there'd be no point, would there? She wouldn't know because the things she learned from him were but a fragment.

Where would I even go?

They're probably just like you.

"I'D RATHER DIE HERE INSTEAD." 296 screamed, tears gushing out from her face. "I'D RATHER BURN HERE ALIVE THAN BE STUCK WITH YOU OUT THERE. I BET YOU LIED ABOUT THAT NEW KID THAT CAME IN. I BET YOU EVEN LIED ABOUT MY PARENTS. MY ACTUAL ONES. THE ONES THAT WERE WORTH OF TRUSTING...AND LOVING!" She let out a gasp and sobbed. "YOU MUST'VE LIED ABOUT CARING FOR US. DOING EVERYTHING FOR OUR OWN GOOD. I TRUSTED YOU WITH ALL MY LIFE, DR. EXOR!"

296 put a hand to her mouth, sobbing as she felt her hand become more wet and hot.

But that doesn't mean anything to me anymore.

Dr. Exor's robe burned as his face glowered in silence.

And 296 examined the room, her tears streaming out as her back was pinned to the door. This would be the very last time she'd ever breathe in this world. And she'd die in here, with the one person who had wrecked everything she'd known and made her life's glow and value blow out.

And then she felt a tug pull her outside.

#

Leiyun slammed on the door.

"It's locked!" she cried, wiping her face before pulling the knob. She pulled again, and turned it for the final time.

And she closed her eyes as she felt someone's back, and she pulled them outside, never letting go.

#

A girl slammed her back on the door as she glanced around with widened, shaking eyes. Her back was pinned on the door shut as she could smell the smoke in her nose. Or was it fading? She could feel the air purify around her, like a fire was being extinguished.

Leiyun let out a big sigh with flushed cheeks. "Oh!" She squeaked and gave a large smile that she quickly compressed–for she saw the girl's frightened expression.

"Sorry about that. But at least I saved your life! Are you alright?" she asked in a slightly quiet voice, with a hint of a childish excitement. She couldn't believe she managed to find someone who survived in this burning building. The thought of it made her so happy. Her hair bounced! at the tips. She stretched out her hand and gave a friendly smile.

But the girl–with quite evidently short hair–scowled at her and stared down.

Kario glanced behind him as Bhun Uyi and Heski jogged over to him.

"Alright, Kario. We got the fires extinguished." Heski panted and sighed. "But we couldn't find any more people."

"K, that's fine. We're going to have to check on them with the Qa when we get back." Then he faced Leiyun. "Leiyun, we need to go now."

Leiyun gave a smile. "Coming!" She then turned to the girl, her short blue locks framing a frightened face. We can't leave her behind. She looks so scared. And then to Bhun Uyi, Heski, and Kario. "Hey, can she come with us?"

"Why?" Heski asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms. He felt rather impatient at the thought of bringing the girl. They already destroyed the Throne House in broad daylight with Valencia Qa not around; who knows when she'll show up? "We're already running late. Won't it be best for her to stay behind?"

"And leave her here in this charred place, what will she do?" Leiyun frowned. "C'mon, Heski. You said before that you wished for more help." Leiyun raised her hand up. "And she can come to help us out!" Leiyun turned to the short girl–everything about her seemed short, actually. "You're okay with that, right? I wouldn't want to force you to come along. And the others wouldn't want that, either."

She simply sighed. "Where are you planning to go, anyways?"

"We can't say much," Heski replied, his dark brown eyes staring at her.

"But if you'd like to help us change Oceanuris, we'd be delighted to bring you along." Bhun Uyi added. His voice was deep and feathery.

Oceanuris. The girl thought. That word again.

"C'mon, won't you like to come?" Leiyun asked. "Bhun Uyi, Kario, Heski, and I want to change Oceanuris. At least for its sake. For our own sake."

And...you. She thought to herself. I don't want to leave you behind.

Seeing that the girl was much shorter than her, she kneeled down to match the same height as her. "You and I and all of us. We can go and change Oceanuris and Valencia. Do you want to join us?"

Leiyun outstretched her hand with a glisten in her eye. Bhun Uyi, Heski, and Kario all examined her and stared with eager faces. Leiyun's eyes traced her ashy-colored dress, her hair short and slightly burned at the tips. The girl. Leiyun felt her heart sink. She looked so lost. And so scared. Leiyun couldn't shake it out of her head.

She wanted her to come. But not just because they needed another person to help out.

But the girl wasn't fully ready, she felt. She felt an aching feeling in her body from the running just earlier. Her eyes still burned from crying and her neck still burned from that stamping so long ago. That was all because she trusted Dr. Exor and made that her life purpose. Why should I do that again?

And yet.

I have nowhere else to go, do I?

She reached her hand to touch Leiyun's and grabbed it tight, never letting go.