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Krista Demarko hurried down the quiet cobblestone streets, her heart threatening to burst as she sprinted home. The salty ocean air filled her nose and lungs, causing wave after wave of nostalgia to wash over her with each breath she took.
I'm finally back in Azakua! It's almost too good to be true!
Her trip aboard the sky ship had thankfully been uneventful. She hid in a crate, which had been carried aboard, placed alongside other cargo, and shipped back to her country without any issues. While in hiding, she had stuffed her pockets with some of the soft packing fluff laying around her.
I have to plug my ears, in case anyone tries to control me with their voice.
Sneaking off the ship without being spotted had been difficult, but not impossible. The men and women flying the ship had been busy tending to other matters, allowing Krista to slip by practically unnoticed. The problem had been her walking down the dock and heading back into the city Matumi.
Someone had yelled something at her. Instead of listening she bolted as fast as she could down the street, not daring to stop or look back at how many were following after her.
When Dad sees me everything will be alright. He'll stop them from chasing me. I just need to make it home!
Krista thought about her father, who had always carved out time to spend with her regardless of how much work he had piled upon his plate. He didn't always keep his promises, especially when they involved going out for a day trip around town, but she knew he tried to put her first.
The girl turned a corner and spotted several armor clad men and women on foot running towards her from the other end of the street. A huge truck with tinted windows followed in their wake.
"Krista!" an unfamiliar voice shouted at her from ahead.
The blond shoved her makeshift plugs into her ears and quickly darted into an alleyway, pushing her already exhausted legs to run even faster.
Please be home Dad! Please know I'm here!
Krista knew the town of Matumi well. It didn't matter what part she was in, several landmarks always helped her find her way back to her father's house. She zigzagged down several more backstreets, even taking the time to climb and hop through fenced backyards to avoid detection and throw off pursuers.
Several muffled shouts from behind reverberated in her plugged ears, but she pressed on, ignoring them as much as possible.
I can't stop. I can't look. I can't listen. I have to find Dad!
Just as Krista was about to reach her house, a figure flew down and hovered right front of her. It was someone she hadn't seen in years, someone she didn't expect to see ever again.
