After departing with Heath, we went back to the main street of Lyrus. As usual, there was a big movement of people but, as I entered the crowd, I realized that this time there was something different: the place was full of scattered and armed soldiers.

-Shit! -cursed Dominic, increasing the pace.

- If we start running, we will attract attention. - said Joseph, analyzing the situation with serious expression. -Let's split up. It's riskier if we walk together.

-We cannot leave Althea alone. - Contested Dominic immediately.

-Dominic. Be rational. - said Joseph even more seriously than before. -They won’t recognize her face, but we can’t say the same about ours. Right now, she will be safer on her own.

A moment of silence followed when finally, Dominic nodded his head, showing agreement.

-All right, so let’s keep moving. Every second we lose, the situation becomes more risky. Althea, keep going straight on the main street. Don't talk to strangers.

-Should we meet back at the boat? -I asked; but without forgetting the fact that, maybe, I didn't know how to find the boat so easily.

-Yes. Be careful in any case. -replied Joseph.

-I will.

Then we separated. Joseph went to a small street at my right direction and Dominic to the left. I continued moving forward, walking with my head down and avoiding looking into the eyes of the soldiers passing by me. The crowded street seemed even more confusing and messy, which made me extremely nervous. "You're safe, Althea. They won’t recognize you." I repeated mentally.

I continued walking further in the crowd when I saw an empty street on my left. At that point I couldn't see any of my companions anymore. I decided then to change my route, since I thought it would be even less likely to find an enemy.

The name of the little street was Mitslayne and, except for a couple passing by it was deserted. Unlike the main street, there were no stores around me, but walls. The silence took over my mind as I walked further away. But it wasn't just the silence that caught my attention. Fear pulsed in my veins with every heartbeat. Had they both escaped? Had the soldiers recognized them and were they in danger now?

My mind began to generate flashes of my past. I remembered the darkness and the sound of the chains. I had to calm down. I was safe. They were going to be safe.

The street ended and I came across two exits: one to the left and one to the right.

-And now Althea? Where are you going? - I asked myself. -Maybe to the right?

Then, I took my course. This street was vast, and I couldn't see the end of it.

Time went by and the sun was at the top of the sky. I kept walking down the same street, without looking back. At that pace, I was sure that I would never find the boat.

I reached the end of the street and the anger took hold of me. A poster was hanging on the wall in front of me with the written phrase "Dead End”.

-This must be a joke! This poster should be at the beginning and not at the end of the street! -I cried out loud, infuriated.

-It seems that your day is not very good young lady. -Spoke a voice behind me.

Shit. Shit, shit and shit!

I turned very slowly and tried to prepare my heart for what was to come. Four men were standing in front of me. Three of them were soldiers and one had a different uniform, where his name and title were written: Major Clark.

Dominic was wrong. I was sure that Major was a higher rank than Lieutenant.

-Are you perhaps lost? -Major Clark asked while approaching me. He was a tall man, dark-haired and not older than 30 years old. If he wouldn’t be a Marine, I would believe he was a friendly person.

"Try not to look suspicious Althea."

-Hmm, well... You could say that. I think I got in the wrong street. -I replied, trying to show off an innocent smile.

-I see! What a coincidence since we turned in the wrong way as well. You are not from here in town, am I right? It's not common to see a young woman like you walking alone on a street like this. -continued the Major while the other soldiers kept their distance from us, whispering something I couldn't hear. I took a step back and hit my back on the wall.

-Calm down, we won't hurt you. -said then one of the soldiers. -We're only looking for two criminals who apparently are in this city. You wouldn't happen to know them, right?

-No. I don't know any criminals. -I replied, facing them with the serious expression. I was not good at lying.

Suddenly the Major came even closer and looked at me with a different expression, analyzing me from top to bottom.

-Wait a moment. I've seen you somewhere before. Your face is something I wouldn't forget. -said Clark looking for something in his pocket. -What's your name?

I didn't answer. Were Joseph and Dominic wrong? Was it possible that the government had released my name?

-I'm sorry, it's getting late. I have to get going. My parents must be... worried. -I improvised.

-Major, can you come here for a moment? -asked one of the soldiers.

-Yes. Don't move, miss. Don't even think about disobeying my request. -said Clark while taking few steps away from me.

I obeyed him and stood still, trying to get a plan in my head. I was clearly not ready for fighting yet. I focused then on trying to hear what the soldiers were talking about.

-She is the girl who was released by Knight and Greyston a few weeks ago, I am sure of that sir. I wouldn't forget that face and besides, she has a huge reward on her head.

-How so? -asked Clark. -She is just a young girl! There's no way she's such a criminal. Dominic Knight is not the type that would waste his time to free some random girl. She must be seventeen at most!

I felt my adrenaline raising and when I realized, I was trying to escape from there. However, I was stopped by the other two soldiers who held me and pushed me against the wall.

-Hey, calm down! What are you trying to do?

Clark now had a piece of paper in his hand which he stared at intensely. Then he raised his eyes and faced me.

-Althea... That name... -said Clark with his half-closed eyes. My body shook. Now I had no more escaping. -Calm down, I won't hurt you. I just want you to explain to me what the reason behind this monstrous reward is. I doubt very much that you are a cold-blooded pirate, or a murderer. In the report I received, your crimes are listed as "Serious confidential crimes against the government”. Origin: confidential. Family name: confidential... This is ridiculous. It is also written here that we are not allowed to hurt you or ask questions and that you are only... fifteen years old! There must be something wrong.

-Something wrong? I never killed anyone! Nor am I a pirate or anything like that. -I spoke with a slightly altered voice. The anger went to my head every time I was accused of crimes that I had not even committed. -You kept me locked up for nine years! Nine years! Do you think it gave me time to become a rebel or murder someone? Do you think I was a criminal when I was six? If you doubt something that is written there more than me, ask your superior.

-Hey, respect girl! You're not talking to anybody. -said one of the soldiers, while pushing me stronger against the wall.

-No, it's okay John. -replied Clark. He seemed like a good person, even though he was part of the Navy. -It's interesting your point of view. Is there anything you want to ask to clarify things? Something that's in your report? But I can only answer simple things; no details.

I blushed.

-Tell me as much information as you can. -I asked.

-Here it says that your name is Althea, which is already something strange, because there is no last name. Born on August 13th. Level five criminal. High priority of capture. Without permission to take action that could hurt her. Reward of 70 million golden coins.

70 mi...

-Wh… what?!

-Exactly what you heard. That's why you are top priority.

70 million! That reward was absurd; there really must have been something wrong with that report. It was a far greater reward than Dominic's.

-You will take me to the barracks?

-Probably. We have to find out if this is not a mistake. -responded Clark.

-Is there any chance that I can escape?

-No. But I'm sure you won't stop trying. John, Linnus, Aire. Arrest her.

I tried again to run away from them, but it was useless. They blocked the passage in front of me and there was no other way out. I would have to fight.

But that was not necessary.

Just as I was a magnet for danger, Dominic was a master at saving me in my worst moments. His tall figure appeared on the roof of one of the small buildings around us, ready to attack. The three soldiers were now grabbing me by my arms while I tried to free myself and fight back. I tripped over one of them and hit my head on the wall, falling to the ground taking the soldier whose name was John along with me. None of them seemed to notice the presence of another person there, except Clark, who now had his back to us, facing the figure on the roof.

With an absurd jump, in my opinion, Dominic came down from the building and landed standing in front of the Major. Clark walked away from him and turned to me and the other three who were trying to immobilize me.

-Soldiers! We have company. Mr. Knight has finally decided to join us.

-What about the girl? -asked one of them.

-Leave her to me. -responded Clark, who was now standing next to me and holding me tight. I turned to Dominic, asking him with my eyes if I should fight Clark at that moment. He understood my question and shook his head to the sides answering me no. I obeyed and set out to observe what was about to happen.

John, Linnus and Aire drew their swords and went towards their opponent. The first blow was dealt by the military and Dominic defended himself brilliantly. The blows that followed were fast, almost invisible. Dominic dominated the three soldiers with the same ease he dominated the Hunters on the previous island. In just over a minute, the fight had already ended.

-Excellent! A real general! - applauded Clark.

-Ex-general. - said Dominic with the controlled voice I already knew. -Is that what Orion sent after me? Three frail soldiers and a Major? Let her go and let's get it over with.

At that moment, Clark drew his sword and put it around my neck. The expression on Dominic           's face changed instantly.

-Hmm, I see. So indeed, you are here to save her. I would never expect that from a cold-blooded man. You tell me then. -Spoke Clark, still threatening to cut me with his sword if Dominic moved. -Why is this fifteen-year-old girl being sought by the World Government and how can the reward for her head be so absurd? What is so important about this girl to make Orion move mountains after you? What is so important about her that someone like you deserted?

-Ask your superiors. -answered Dominic with a tone of disgust.

-You are in no position to deny me anything. Answer my question!