M came swiftly and before they k Aya and Mars were rising with the sun. The moving truck would be there early and soon they would be leaving the apartment food.

  Mars walked out of her room, phone in hand as she checked with the driver and the movers who would be in the vehicle with him.

  Aya was already ihroom getting ready for the long jouro Mericross. Mars waited for her to finish before running into the bathroom to begin her own routine.

  “No breakfast?” Aya asked, pouting.

  “We'll get some orain to Mericross.” Mars said yawning. The truck would be there any minute now, the driver told her he was already ing up ourning towards their run doartment plex.

  Aya looked out the window in time to see the truck pull into the driveway. It was a rge e and yellow van, with the pany logo printed in bold greeers.

  “Cole trug co.” Aya read. That was a bit tough to say, almost like a towister.

  “Oh perfect they're here, e on Aya we have to let them get pag.” Mars said, tugging on her jacket.

  Aya nodded and watched a pair of burly me the truck’s rear. She followed their movements towards the entrance where they were stopped by...

  Lydia.

  The hag held her hand up authoritatively, speaking to the men in what Aya assumed was her usual desding tohe men exged gnces with each other and then took out their phones, no doubt to call Mars, their t.

  Mars picked up, then followed Aya’s gaze to the window where Lydia had stopped them. The dark haired girl sighed deeply and answered the phoelling them she would be down shortly.

  “Your aunt’s a pain in the ass.” Mars said, pulling open the door and walking down to get the movers.

  Aya watched them argue downstairs, watg in glee as Mars and the pair of movers pushed past the old woman and began their ast toward their apartment.

  ----------

  The heaviest thing to carry down was Mars’s gaming pod, the men carried it gently, moving at the pace of a snail as they got it into the truck. Aya and Mars helped with the smaller items, taking their clothes, and dishes on a long trip dowairs.

  The men came up to carry the rest of Mars’s equipment and Aya’s boxed up Revista.

  “Finally moving huh?” Mars said with a grin, she bumped her shoulder gently into Aya’s who smiled back at her.

  “Finally.” Aya said. “I 't wait to get on that train and never look back.”

  The girls exited the apartment plex, the moving van, now packed up, was already on its way to their neartment in Mericross. In its pce was supposed to be a taxi waiting to take them to the train station but it hadn't arrived yet.

  “Huh, the car's not here yet. That's annoying.”

  But there was one more obstacle in their path and that was Lydia.

  “You want to take this one or should I?” Mars asked, ready to spit fire at the annoying old woman who had made her friend’s life hell.

  “If she tries anything, I got it.” Aya said fidently. They walked past Lydia, ign her as they made their way to the driveway so they could wait for the car that would ferry them to their destination.

  “Where do you think yoing?” A voice asked behind them. Aya and Mars turned around to see Lydia’s lip curved in a she woman stood like a Miasmic creature at the entrance of the building a few meters away from them.

  “You think you have the right to leave this pce, yrandmother-”

  “You should probably get some new material, you've tried that already.” Aya said with a shrug, a smug expressioook her features. “Remember when you said I had o go? Where's that fidenow?”

  “You 't leave, when Fido gets here-”

  Aya cut her off again.

  “Lydia, does it look like I'm going to be around when Mr. Fido gets here?” Aya asked incredulously. “Look around! I'm leaving.”

  The e clutched her head in a panic, her emotions were pin to see. If Aya wasn't here they couldn't keep bckmailing her uncle.

  Aya wondered if it was wise to tell her she was on to them, but reasohat would be stupid. Aya shook her head.

  “Geez, where is that car?”

  “Not so fast.”

  “What is it now?!” Mars barked.

  A car had pulled up into the driveway. Rather than a taxi, a beat up four seater that looked to be on its st legs squeaked into the se

  Its oct stepped out with a smirk and one hand in his pocket.

  “Aya won't be going anywhere.” Fido said.

  Lydia gasped and her expression of despair transformed into one ance.

  “You see it's beneficial for us that Aya stays with Lydia, not only are they family but there are certain opportuhat we ot allow to slip by.”

  “You mean the bckmail.” Aya said in disgust. “We know all about that already.”

  “You two have got to be the dumbest criminals I've met.” Mars sighed.

  Fido frowned, how long had Aya known?

  “Would a dumb criminal do this?” Fido whipped out a gun, but to Mars’s surprise, Aya didn't seem fazed at all. The brue ughed.

  ‘I khis girl was not normal.’ Mars thought, meanwhile she looked around for a way to get out of the situation. She was about to tell Aya to ruhe brue spoke again.

  “All that money and you haven't upgraded your car in three years?” Aya retorted.

  “Shut up and put your hand up. You think I'm going to let a stupid brat ruin the best years of my life?” Fido snapped, “I'm surprised Lydia eve you get this far.”

  Mars inteo step forward, she didn't know what she was going to do, but she would be damned if she let anything happen to Aya.

  Fido chuckled and turhe gun on Mars.

  “I remember you, not so tough now with a gun in your face.”

  “Oh brother, all that money and that's the gun you could afford. Well, I suppose any bigger and we'd both think you were pensating for something.” Mars said. She remembered him too, a coward who folded at the first sign of frontation.

  Fido fumed, his face as red as the peppers Aya had fed in Moon Valley.

  “Shut up! Shut up!” Fido released the safety of his gun and fired a bullet a few feet away from Mars. He whipped the gun around and poi back at her.

  “Give me any more attitude and you won't live to make any more quips.” Fido growled.

  Aya slowly put her hand up but didn't lose her fident expression.

  “Were you ever going to tell me I had family outside of that hag?” Aya asked gring.

  Fido ran a hand through his greasy strands, trying to maintain his calm.

  “It was best you didn't know, after all, I didn't think you'd be getting out of this city.”

  “Did you pn to keep me here or did you just assume I wouldn't have any dreams or aspirations? A loser, quite like... you.”

  “Watch it.” Fido snapped. “Tell your friend to do as I say.”

  “Mars, put your hands up.” Aya whispered.

  “What are you pnning you silly girl?”

  “You'll see.”

  Sunghost