Lucifer strode across the lobby, the clump of his combat boots guiding Astrid as she gaped at the aquariums surrounding them. The azure waters were full of neon fish that shimmered as they slipped through the gently waving plants and haphazard rock formations. Glowing jellyfish floated lazily, changing color with the light over their tank.

Is this a business or an aquarium? she wondered.

"They've got a dead body!" a woman hissed.

Astrid's ears swiveled in the direction of the voice, turning her head slowly. The woman leaned heavily against one of the aquariums with her hand over her mouth; her wizened face had the world-weary edge of one who had seen many things. But her washed-out eyes held no horror, smoldering with anger that scalded Astrid's skin and grabbed at her ankles, slowing her down. She swallowed, unable to look away.

"Oh my--" The young woman in the corner doubled over, gagging.

Digging her fingernails into her thighs to keep from covering her face, Astrid hurried after Lucifer. One pair of many glass doors slid open, the roar of the city washing over them as they walked down the stone stairs.

"Stay close." Lucifer scanned the highway, face contorted with exertion, shoulders rigid. But he never faltered, marching swiftly along the crowded sidewalks.

While some people gawked or backed away, the majority of them remained unphased. They continued to flow around them with nothing more than a stare and a few of them even bumped against her without a second look. She faltered, tripping over her untied shoelaces as her gaze jumped from one face to the other.

Her mouth went dry as the surging mass of people crossing the road swallowed Lucifer up. What if she couldn't find him again? Where would she go? She didn't know anything about him, didn't know where he was going...but he was going somewhere, and that was better than nowhere.

"Please, please, please," she whispered, shoving her way through the people, their blank faces blending into featureless ovals.

The hostile murmurs grew louder as she stumbled into the street. A flash of dirty grey, out of place in the bright tapestry of clothing, screaming for her to follow despite the red hand on the crosswalk sign glaring at her. A sleek black car with gleaming silver trim was approaching from the right.

I've got time.

She darted forward, muddy water splashing her calves. But suddenly, she was stumbling backward, the neckline of her shirt digging in her throat as an unseen hand jerked her back.

"Let go!" she yelled, struggling to pull away.

But whoever it was refused, wrapping an arm around her waist and hauling her back onto the sidewalk. Seconds later, the car whipped past and a second arm slide around her midsection.

She could have made it, and now every second traffic streamed past, Lucifer was getting farther and farther away. It was no use now--there was no gap between cars.

Swallowing her screams, she drove her elbows into the body behind her. People gasped, and there was a stifled cry of pain as she broke free. Panting, Astrid whirled around and came face to face with her restrainer.

He made no effort to grab her again, red eyes flickering from her ears and back to her face. His silver-streaked black hair coordinated with the obsidian jumpsuit he wore for a menacing feel. Astrid instinctively wanted to get away from the minder--a slang term for the police who minded, or cared for, the city.

She was still trapped. The minder moved closer, muscles rippling under the tight fabric.

"What are you doing? I'm fine," Astrid gasped, knowing full well just how horrifying she looked. "Stay away!"

"Ma'am, please calm down, everything's alright," he soothed, slowly reaching out his hand. "I'll take you back to headquarters with me so you can get cleaned up and your parents can be notified."

No, no! She had to get away.

"I said, I'm fine." It was a struggle to keep her voice from shaking, but by some miracle, she managed. "None of that will be necessary."

Face hardening, the minder stepped closer. "Miss Rytron, please cooperate."

She stumbled off the curb and into the puddle again, mind spinning. Traffic or not, escaping was her only option. He knew her name and he'd tracked her here.

"Go to Ravenhold!" Astrid cursed.

A car blared its horn, screeching to a halt mere inches from impact, the vehicle beside it sliding in front of her. Pushing away from the cracked asphalt with all of her might, she leaped onto its hood, dropping to the ground on the other side. She tripped, pitching forward but managing to stay on her feet as she mingled with the crowd.

They parted like the Red Sea, the rising wave of scared and confused voices thundering in her ears. Her legs burned, accompanied by stabbing pain in her feet, the hole in her side ripping wider and deeper with each stride.

He was close. She could almost feel his breath against her neck and his gnarled hands grabbing her shoulders. Like Lucifer, Minders had wings. But these wings were an exclusive mod kept under lock and key. They didn't just function as wings, but also as impossibly long, arm-like appendages with hands resembling claws. Whenever they needed to fly, a simple flick of their arms would make the black skin unfurl to form dragon-style wings.

The edges of her vision were blurring again and the ringing in her ears was back. She was too exhausted, her muscles beyond shot; she would never get away, and the minder would drag her to headquarters. He'd rescue her from one nightmare only to drop her back into a more familiar one.

Why am I still running? Dizziness overtook her, cement taking the place of the sky.

She scrambled to her hands and knees, but the minder was already on her.

"Miss Rytron, I mean you no harm." But his voice said otherwise as he clamped a hand on her shoulder, hefting her to her feet with no effort at all.

The unforgiving city swallowed up Astrid's scream.

"If you refuse to cooperate, I'll be forced to sedate you," he warned, needle piercing her neck almost immediately after.

Control yourself! Calm down! If she couldn't escape now, then there was no point ruining any later chances. Her stiff fingers refused to uncurl and her legs burned with the urge to kick, but slowly, her muscles relaxed.

"Sorry..." she mumbled. "I panicked and..."

Now the minder's fingers rested on the pressure points at the base of her neck, and it took everything in her not to fight him.

"You've had a rough night, but the sedatives should kick in soon, and you'll be able to get some rest." His icy fingers slid down to her shoulder again, steering her back the way they'd come. "If you have trouble walking, let me know."

The minder's strangely soothing voice was silky as it skimmed her skin and she cocked her ears. He connected his words smoothly like the effortless motion of a dancer, a soft hush of summer rain against tree leaves.

When her surroundings melted into a puddle of pastel colors, Astrid shut her eyes, shuffling her feet and relying on the minder for direction. A combination of fatigue and sedatives were starting to toy with her brain now that all of the adrenaline was gone. Her chin slipped toward her chest, pulling painfully on her neck and snapping her back to reality.

They'd crossed the intersection and already passed the wide stairs of the office building, a trail of red splatters leading inside. As her vision wavered, she lurched forward; there was a twinge in her shoulder as the minder jerked her upright.

She needed to stay awake. Biting her tongue, she flinched as the pain seared through her with the familiar taste of blood. Her eyesight cleared until just a few shadows remained at the edges.

The minder pulled her to the left and down a small side street. Tilting her head, the swirled patterns untangled themselves to create fire escape ladders painted baby blues, sunny yellows, and flamingo pink. Clotheslines stretched from one end to the other, an assortment of sheets and clothing clipped at irregular intervals. Ivy clambered up the sides of brick and concrete, jasmine and African violets bursting from the windows. As a whisper of wind kissed her face, the faintest aroma of rolling hills tickled her nose. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her again--such a wonderland did not belong in the city.

"If you would get in the car, please."

Yelping in surprise, Astrid swung to face the minder, only a few feet away. The gleaming chrome and crimson car behind him clashed with the delicate petals that had drifted onto its hood; it was too sharp for this haven.

He took a step towards her and she mimicked the movement, but it was harder to make her feet move than she remembered, almost as if her shoes were stuck to the damp stones. And the inability to feel anything more than a faint tingling in her fingers couldn't be good, either.

What was I doing? She tried to frown, but her face was too heavy. Strange.

The minder pointed to the open car door.

Oh, right. Get in the car...why am I getting in a car? Mommy said to avoid strangers! Her head dropped again. My shoes are muddy...I'll never be able to get the stains out. I hope Mommy won't be mad.

Someone wrapped an arm around her shoulders, guiding and supporting her as the ground heaved upwards.

"T-thanks." Her tongue was too big for her mouth and her lips were swollen.

"You're welcome."

As she collapsed into the seat, she smiled sleepily at the blurry figure looming over her.

"You have a nice voice."

The only reply was the door slamming shut.

"Rude," she muttered.

I...there was something...needed to...wakey. Her lips quirked in a caricature of a scowl. Yeah, wakey...stay wakey.

But a little sleep wouldn't hurt, right?