Venn's clothes clung to him as the icy rain beat down on his head. The numbing cold was making the pain from his broken ribs and the slashes covering his back seem duller. He was pretty sure that was a bad sign. There was no way he would survive out in this rain for much longer. His legs were already feeling heavy and his breaths were even shakier than usual.

He was shivering almost constantly. The dented side of his rib cage flashed with dull, muted pain with every step.

The sun had already mostly set, making the rain that much colder. The dark street ahead was broken by one shaft of light shining through a set of glass doors. Not caring that the building was obviously a church, Venn stumbled toward it.

He pushed through the doors into the warmth of the building. He collapsed, shivering violently, to the pale colored tiles. The water dripping from his clothes was running faintly red, a sure sign that at least some of his wounds had been reopened. He closed his eyes, letting the warmth slowly send him into sleep.

Venn woke suddenly from a nightmare of knives and fire. He sat up quickly, alarm flashing in his eyes as he looked around. Pain arced up his side, but he ignored it with some difficulty. He realized a number of things in rapid succession.

First, he was in a bed. Second, his back had very clearly been bandaged. Third, he couldn't remember how he had gotten here to begin with. Fourth, he was wearing different and much softer clothes. And lastly, he wasn't alone.

A short woman with short hair that was starting to show more gray than brown, was messing with something at a small counter a short distance away. She turned around, holding a steaming mug of hot chocolate. A broad smile spread across her face when she saw Venn sitting up. Her green eyes sparkled happily. "Good afternoon, little one." She started toward him.

Venn slipped out of bed and backed away from her. He bent over slightly, each breath seeming to tear at his broken side. He watched her with wide, suspicious black eyes.

The woman stopped. She watched him with a sad smile for a moment before she set the cup of hot chocolate on the floor. "Alright. I won't get any closer. I have someone making food for you to take when you leave. I promise, none of it is poisoned or drugged and we won't stop you from leaving after we have everything together."

Venn only understood about half of her words, but her soft voice made him relax some. Never taking his eyes off of the woman, he slowly started to move closer. "This is... for me?"

The woman returned to the counter, watching him all the while. "Yes. It's for you. I have a sandwich here as well if you want it?" She took a sandwich in a bag from the counter.

Venn approached the cup cautiously and picked it up. When he recognized the smell of the chocolate, he took a careful sip. It tasted like hot chocolate. The warmth of it made him realize he could still feel a slight chill in his bones.

He looked up at the woman, realizing for the first time that she was holding the sandwich out to him. He walked over to her slowly. He took the sandwich before retreating back to the bed and eyeing her as he ate.

She seemed to pick up on the fact that he was new to English. "I am Emily," she said slowly. "What's your name?"

Venn took a bite from the sandwich before he responded almost too quietly for her to hear. "Scoraggiato."

It was lucky Emily didn't know what the word translated to, or she would have known that wasn't his real name. No sane parent would name their child Scoraggiato. Then again... most sane parents wouldn't give their son the middle name Xenophanes either, so there was always a chance.

Emily smiled at Venn. "Well, Scoraggiato," Venn noted she pronounced it completely wrong, "I will be right back with a bag of food for you to take with you. I get the sense you won't be staying here long. Stay here, alright?" She bustled away before Venn could reply.

Venn finished the sandwich and hot chocolate as quickly as he could. He stalked to the door and peered out, glancing each direction. He saw nobody, but one end of the hallway had stairs leading up to a glass door. So he was still in the church.

After glancing each way again, Venn darted out of the room. His breathing caught slightly in pain as he took a breath too deeply. He heard voices as he pushed open the glass door and ran outside. The rain had stopped and the sun was shining.

Venn looked back once, debating staying for the pack of food, then decided against it. Without looking back again, he started running despite his pain.