Finn could have found his way blindfolded. It was the same sly path he scuttled across whenever he snuck out at night to sit upon that cabin's shabby, old roof. But never had he walked it with such apprehension and tension, for he was now responsible for Lena's safety. He sought to protect and guide her, and when he recognized the well-lit block across the street, his steps quickened and shortened, expressing his relief to have made it unseen thus far. 

Behind a modern platinum-colored car they now cowered and waited impatiently for two men to leave their pathway. Finn was focused on them standing too close and failed to hear the clopping of heels approaching in a sedate rhythm. Lena, too, was distracted by the high rising buildings and the many flickering lights that were overwhelming her senses. Something pecked her shoulder.

"Excuse me, Miss," a tender voice said, causing Lena to jump and rotate. "You are blocking my car."

A grizzled madam hunched behind them, her back was stiff and arched like a croissant. She looked so ancient she appeared to be withering in front of their very eyes. She was looking wan and her wrinkly skin was decorated with birthmarks of various shapes and tints, and while she clutched a yellow purse with one trembling hand, she used the other's expired, long finger to gesture toward the car they were using as cover.

"My car, you're blocking it," she repeated after Lena's face dripped of terror and disorientation.

"So sorry." Finn apologized twice to the lady and interlocked his arm with Lena's to pull her aside. 

Lena didn't make a sound. She looked as terrified as though something had walked right through her and left her numb shaking. One would have imagined that doddery finger as a pistol pointing at Lena's white face, only to make her horrid reaction somewhat penetrable.

"It's quite alright," the lady muffled, and with her weak arm, she tried to pull the handle. 

Finn came to aid her and swayed the door open in a smooth jolt. Her heavy layer of piquant floral perfume itched in Finn's nose, but he ignored it and gave her a courteous nod.

"Thanks, dear." 

She tossed a broad smile at Finn, then smiled even wider when she saw Lena's jacket. Many shadows were cast into her old crinkled face. 

"I see you are on the cheerleading team! My niece was on the cheerleading team all throughout uni. Perhaps you know her. Perhaps not, it was years ago. Maybe ten, or fifteen even? Am I really that old already?" 

Her high-pitched chortle made the heavy earrings that stretched her lobes jingle and dance around her three folds of neck, and as it lasted for more than just a moment, it made the two men aware of the hiding kids. 

One came walking toward Finn and Lena while the other stayed behind watching.

"Her name's Adeline," continued the lady, cheerfully, "but I'd always call her grasshopper because she'd jump around like one. All-day. Made her a great cheerleader. Say, are you in college already? You look so young."

Finn seized Lena's hand. They stood up in synchrony, and before Lena could make an answer, Finn cut in and said, "We'd love to talk more, but we have to get home."

"Hey," the taller man shouted across the street, approaching speedily. "What are you kids doing out so late!"

Finn held onto Lena's hand and fixed his skew cap.

"We were so close," he hissed at Lena without moving his lips. He rushed his words, "We almost made it. Crap! Just don't speak."

The men arrived at the car and examined the situation. Lena's hair was a gimy chaos of brown worn-out curls, and Finn's jaw had little traces of mud covering his healing wounds.

"It's past ten," snarled the man. "Where are your parents? Do you have permission to wander these streets?"

"No, sir," Finn said kindly, "we are on our way home. It's just around the corner."

"What are you returning from?" he quizzed Finn.

"Late practice."

With his fingers, the man combed his slick black hair, "Practice? During summer break?"

"We're preparing for the pre-season," Finn explained, unsure whether it could actually be true, but in hopes that it was a rational excuse, he stuck with his answer.

"Why are you so dirty?" the man asked, staring at Lena.

"Coach made us run laps in the park," answered Finn and received discouraging looks.

"Did I ask you?" He barked at Finn, then stared back at Lena. "Show me your card."

"I forgot my ID," she now said, soft-spoken. She did not even dare to look him in the eyes as he drew his nose up higher.

"Let me guess," he growled at Finn, "you don't have yours either."

Finn merely shook his head, holding onto Lena so tightly she lost the feeling in her fingers.

"No parents, no permission, and no ID."

The man's expression reminded Finn of Nathan. Even his features resembled that of Nathan's face in a freakishly accurate and uncanny way. "Give me your names. I need to report you."

Immediately, Lena shuffled away from the man and crushed Finn's fingers, as he had done to her. Cold sweat tried to cool Finn's flaming body. In vain, it made him all the more panicked.

"Well?" the man narrowed his eyes.

The good lady now hirpled into the foreground but even her sunny smile could not lighten this gloomy man's mood. His eyes were dark, hers full of light.

"I don't think it's necessary to report anyone," she said calmly. "These are my niece and her friend, and I was taking them home."

"Aren't you a bit old to be their aunt?"

"Pardon?" she huffed and swung her fist not much higher than her belt. He expressed great surprise and was more concerned that she would hurt herself than him.

"Forgive me. I didn't mean to offend you."

A thunderbolt could not have been faster than her change of tone. Collected, she said, "Oh no, darling, no need to apologize! But these kids really do belong to me, and it's very late, so."

"I see," he said, quite disappointed. His hand neatened his coal hair afresh while he seemed to be deep into thoughts of how to proceed.

"I'm not getting any younger," warbled the lady, smiling freely once more. "May we go now?"

"Fine. Take them home. But don't let them stroll around at night."

The man rejoined his colleague and together they walked away, out of sight. Finn tried to swallow but his mouth was too dry. "Thanks, ma'am," he said and let go of Lena.

"You're most welcome, sweetie. Men nowadays are far too serious. When I was a young rebel, we used to sneak out every night." Finn could relate to that more than she knew. "But you heard the man, no more strolling around."

She winked at him and curled her back even more to set herself down in her car. Before leaving, she took Finn's hand and placed hers around it like the bread of a sandwich. Her hands were ice packs against his clammy palm.

"Take good care of my little grasshopper."

Convinced that the lady suffered from dementia and was confusing Lena with her own niece, Finn nodded again and returned a mousy, "Yes, ma'am."

And off she went. 

Finn and Lena did not hesitate to make a sprint at the majestic revolving door of a prodigious building. When Lena glimpsed up from the foot of the architectural masterpiece, it seemed infinite but she had no time to be in awe. 

Finn dragged her indoors and made a sharp turn to the right. He summoned the elevator and awaited its arrival restlessly. 

Everything was over the top radiant and clean, from polished floors to colossal gold statues, reflective and glittering from the chandelier light. A fancy round water fountain of smooth stone, embellished with exotic plants on each crafted level, was located in one corner, white leather chairs around shiny glass tables in another one, and in the center of a magnificently arranged series of marble pillars sprawled a princely carpet, spotless as though it had been vacuumed thoroughly less than a minute prior to their entry. Classical music played softly in the background, absolutely unfitting to Finn's agitated aura.

Lena wanted to memorize the never-seen shapes and colors of every item in that noble and king-worthy lobby but Finn advised her to keep her head low. 

A small group of men in fashionable suits was amassing near the lounge, one of them eying Finn's murky shoes, but as soon as the elevator swallowed the awkward teenagers, that man simply raised his perfect eyebrows and forgot all about the two strange individuals.

The elevator walls were three immaculate mirrors, the floor gleaming bronze, and as Lena looked at the ceiling to collect more impressions she detected that it was just another spotless mirror. 

She decided to stare at her boots for the whole of the lift, for she did not like the look of herself. Never did she stress about her appearance, somehow being grubby only bothered her when seen by Finn, but he seemed not to care at the slightest. 

He had other worries whirling through his mind, for example; he prayed that no one would join them on their ride into the heights. He thought it possible to remain just the two of them since his apartment was at the two top floors and most residents would need to go down to the entrance hall, rather than up to higher levels.

The burnished doors slid open and Finn keeked around each corner twice before walking out with Lena. Only two apartments were on that floor; one unoccupied, both deserted. But not for long. 

Finn walked down the silent hallway, even here framed paintings were displayed to their left and right side. They stopped at the only door in sight. It was towering and predictably pristine. 

A square touchpad was attached to the wall. Finn rushed a password to gain access to the apartment and Lena watched closely, unaware that it was rude on Kepler to do as such, but then again, Finn did not seem to care.

"Why 0620?" asked Lena but a sudden clicking noise interfered with Finn's answer and the screen turned green, followed by the door swaying open as if magic was involved.

They hurried inside and shut the heavy door behind them. It locked automatically, and lights turned on on its own. 

Finn drew his first completed breath; ever since that senior popped up behind them he had been too twitchy to regulate his breathing. Now he was able to pause and come to the realization that they had finally made it. 

His eyes went quickly around the vastness of the room before they affixed to the large silver fridge.

"Home sweet home," he said, breathless, then walked two steps down to the open living room area and past the counter into the kitchen area.

Lena, as if hypnotized, remained standing at the front door. She couldn't believe her own eyes when they studied every inch of his palatial penthouse.

"Home," she whispered to herself, as those words of his were stuck on repeat in the head she felt too heavy to bear.