It was one of those nights: dark, stormy and freezing cold. And as per usual, I was out in the middle of it. Walking the streets in downtown alone as I did every night for the last 3 years; I would have thought I would be used to the elements by now, but I still shivered in the wet cold. I hurried toward a dark alley I occasionally used to hide in after stealing food from local vendors, in hopes I would stay dry.

Giant puddles splashed under my dirty bare feet as I quickly and quietly rushed to my alleyway in attempt to not be noticed. My old white button down blouse was so drenched, it stuck to my skin as if it was suctioned on and my overly large jeans grew heavier with the water. I put all this cold and wet thoughts out of my head and tried to imagine a very dry and warm bed, but it was no use. I didn't know what that would be like having spent my life at a...well, I was told it was an orphanage, but it felt like a research lab instead.

Almost reaching my destination, I slowed down to a quick walking pace. I was breathing slightly hard and I could see my breath drift in front of me as I exhaled. I thought for a moment that maybe it would start snowing, but I prayed it wouldn't. I didn't have the clothes for such weather.

As I reached the alley my head began to spin, no doubt from the lack of food the last couple of days.

I plopped down on an old somewhat damp cardboard box and closed my eyes. Letting my breathing calm down and my head to stop spinning, I sat still for quite a long time. Such a long time in fact, I eventually fell asleep without me knowing it. I began to dream about hot tubs, fireplaces and baking cookies. All things I have never seen or done, but had heard about in ads or passing conversation on the streets. My dream was so happy, I didn't want to wake up, however some strangers on the street had another agenda and made a huge crashing noise causing me to jump up in alarm.

I crept quietly behind the dark green garbage bin next to my cardboard box and tried to peer around it to the spot where the noise had come from. Fog had settled in and the rain had stopped so it had become eerily quiet. I squinted down the alley toward the main road and saw two black figures emerge slowly toward me through the fog. My eyes grew wide with fear and I curled up into the fetal position, hoping, just hoping they wouldn't spot me. Their voices grew closer and one of them sounded extremely angry.

"Why aren't things going as planned?" I caught a piece of the conversation. The voices didn't grow any louder and I noticed the two men had stopped midway into my alley. I slowly peered over again and gasped when I realized I recognized the two men in black. The tall one with the black trench coat, long black hair and the evil expression on his face was Jiao. The one who kept me imprisoned my whole life. And the other bald man in the black suit was his assistant.

My heart began to race a mile a minute. If they spotted me, they would take me away again and maybe even kill me next time. Panic flooded my body and to make things worse, my stomach growled so loudly, the two men heard it.

Their footsteps splashed towards me quickly and I all did was hold myself tightly, preparing for the worst when another voice pierced the cold air.

"Excuse me sirs?" the voice asked somewhat politely; it was a mans voice, "Do you need any help?"

The footsteps toward me stopped suddenly and I felt Jiao and his assistant turn around to face the newcomer.

Jiaos dark sharp voice responded, "Its none of your business...doctor" He said smugly, "Just run along now and there won't be any trouble."

I heard the newcomer chuckle, "It is certainly my problem" He retorted, taking a few steps forward, "Two strange men, in a dark alley trying to harm the young lady behind the trash can is certainly my business." His voice grew cold as he finished speaking.

Jiao's mouth contorted into a twisted smile. I watched him as he slowly began to pull out a gun at his side when suddenly, a bolt of lightning flew through the sky and struck Jiao in the arm.

"Ugh!" He yelled in pain, dropping the gun to the filthy wet concrete below him.

While he was stunned, the newcomer rushed forward and started punching Jiao in the face. Jiao began to block, but was still disoriented.

"Help me!" Jiao shouted to his assistant, but he had disappeared at some point during the commotion.

Jiao snarled and threw something into the air which caused the other man to jump back. The thing exploded in the air and debris began to fly everywhere. I screamed and tried escaping from the inferno above me as the building next to the alley caught fire.

In my desperate attempt to escape, I tripped on a broken stroller and fell flat on my face. I felt that weakness and dizziness from earlier and I couldn't get myself to stand back up. A large chunk of debris fell close by to me and I felt the fire grow closer to my body, burning me. I flinched from the pain and tilted my head up a bit to try and find an escape route. As I glanced up, I could have sworn I caught eye contact with Jiao before he vanished before my eyes. Too tired at this point to feel anything, I set my head down on the concrete and closed my eyes, waiting to be burnt to a crisp.

Not a second later, I felt hands pick me up. I opened my eyes and saw the new comer holding me in his arms and rushing us away from the alley. He was wearing metal rimmed glasses in front of his stunning blue eyes. His light brown hair was dripping in water, but his expression was that of a determined person with a mission.

I heard sirens cut through the night as fire trucks and ambulances hurried toward the fire. The man rushed me over to one of the ambulances and he set me down in the back.

"Yumichi!" A voice called. A doctor rushed over to me and the mysterious man.

"Cairo!" My savor responded, shaking hands with the other man.

Finally getting another a full view of this mysterious man, apparently named Yumichi, I noticed he was also wearing a lab coat like his doctor friend. I grew curious about who these people were, but my pain overpowered me. I winced at my side and made a slight grown that the two doctors noticed and moved their attention over to me.

"I'm so sorry!" My hero, Yumichi, said to me. He was looking at me with such concern in his eyes, I couldn't help but feel so calm and safe, "Let me take a look at your wound."

Yumichi lightly lifted up my shirt and took a look at the damage. A moment later he whipped out a handkerchief from his pocket and began patting the blood at my side causing me to wince again.

While I was being treated, I watched as firefighters, pedestrians and paramedics rushing around, making sure everyone and everything was okay. The fire was nearly out, thank goodness. That building was an old apartment complex. Families and pets were being evacuated.

Looking around at the scene and trying not to cry from my wound, I caught a glimpse at Yumichi's friend, Cairo. He was a big bulky man, no question to whether he worked out. His arms barely were contained in his lab coat sleeves. His short black hair was combed neatly to the side of his head. He was staring intently at me with his dark brown eyes, which freaked me out a little. Through all this chaos, wouldn't he have something better to do than stare at me?

"Uh, hi." He said to me awkwardly when he noticed my judging glares.

I raised my eyebrow and he finally walked away.

"Sorry about him." Yumichi said to me, tossing his handkerchief in a small trash bin on the ambulance. "He's not good with kids." He hopped onto the ambulance behind me and began washing his hands.

"What's your name sweetie?" he asked me, while drying his hands on a towel and taking a seat next to me at the end of the ambulance.

I played with my brown hair for a moment before answering. I felt a little embarrassed telling him my name, because I knew then he would ask about my parents, which I did not have.

I got up off the ambulance and tried saying 'I gotta go' but I ended up falling off instead and landing face down on the pavement, for the second time tonight.

"Are you ok?" Yumichi asked me, getting down and trying to help me up.

I couldn't help but let out a little sniffle as he pulled me back up into the van. That wound was killing me.

"We should go to the hospital." he began saying as he set me on the bed, "I should call your parents?" He whipped out his cellphone from his lab coat pocket and handed it to me. I looked at him with a confused look on my face apparently, because a moment later he said, "Dial your parents number so they can meet us at the hospital."

I felt my face flush of all it's color and Yumichi looked concerned, "Why don't you just tell me the number or their names and I can take care of it for you."

I just kept staring at him, trying to think of something to say, but nothing came. An awkward silence resumed until Yumichi told me to lie down for a moment.

"We'll take off in just a moment." He told me and left the ambulance. I breathed a sigh of relief. I had some time to come up with an excuse. I could lie and say I didn't know their number, but I would have to give false names for my parents. Either way I was at a road block. I considered trying to leave again, but I was at my limit with weakness and pain. I sat up on the bed and saw Yumichi returning with his good pal Cairo, who did not seem to thrilled to be boarding the van with me in it.

He gave me a small smile and tried to look preoccupied by glancing at the roof every couple seconds. One of the paramedics came in as well and closed the door behind him. Seconds later and I felt the ambulance take off, the siren nearly deafening me.

My first time in an ambulance, first time going to a hospital, and the first time in a while I was scared for my life.

2: Who are you?

The ride to the hospital didn't take very long, but the tedious questions asked by the paramedics and Yumichi made it feel like a lifetime. As the van sped away and occasionally bumped up in down, the paramedic was hooking me up to the monitors and checking my heart rate.

Yumichi sat on my right side, while the paramedics man was to my left. Cairo sat by my feet, looking like he wished to be anywhere else.

"Name?" the paramedics guy said indifferently, now wiping my side wound with disinfectant.

"Uh." I said, feeling extremely uncomfortable with the situation and the burning sensation at my side, "it's Kiona." I finally said after contemplating whether or not I should give a false name. I did not.

"Kiona?" Yumichi asked with a spark of interest at my side, "How old are you?" he asked slightly insistent.

I thought a while about this. I actually didn't know my real age since I was never told when my birthday was. I had an estimation though.

"13." I replied, trying to sound confident in that answer. Yumichi gave me such a strange look and I returned his look with an equally strange one.

"Your last name?" paramedics man asked, fiddling with some machines and reaching for a clipboard.

"uh..." I stammered. Crap I thought, now I look suspicious not knowing my last name.

"Uh" I began again, "I'm having trouble remembering some stuff...I think I hit my head."

I figured if I could lie my way out of this, I could be home free. Well, street free?

"Didn't look like you had any injuries on your head" the paramedics dude responded, now pulling up my light brown hair to see if I had any cuts or bruises. "We can do a scan just in case at the hospital" he finished.

"You don't remember how you ended up at that alley at this time of night?" Yumichi asked lightly, "If you don't, no need to push yourself."

I just shook my head. I honestly didn't know what to say. I decided to play the 'I hit my head' card for the time being and be quiet.

"You have some minor burns and cuts on your side, but it should heal up in no time." the paramedic told me, finally actually looking at me and not the machines, "You'll just need a couple stitches and maybe stay overnight so we can ensure you're okay."

I nodded and thanked the guy. He gave me a warm smile as the ambulance began to slow down as we arrived at the hospital. Before getting out, the paramedic guy said one last thing before opening the door, "By the way, my name is AJ" and then he grabbed the bed and began pulling it out of the van while Cairo and Yumichi opened the van doors.

As soon as the bed touched the ground, AJ took off and Yumichi and Cairo began pushing me into the hospital. I suddenly felt extremely nervous and unsure of what was going to happen. I glanced around, taking everything in. Doctors and nurses were hurrying past and occasionally patients hooked up to IVs walked past. I heard some screaming coming from one of the rooms down the hall and it gave me the chills. I shuddered as the bed came to a halt in one of the private emergency rooms.

Yumichi picked me up and placed me on a new bed and Cairo took away the rolling bed from the ambulance. As he left the room he closed the door leaving us two in the room. Yumichi started rummaging through one of the drawers to my right and pulled out a fresh white gown.

"I need you to change into this before I can get started." He said to me, handing me the gown. He started to leave the room, "I'll give you a minute and I'll be right back." Giving me a smile, he left the room.

I looked down at the gown in my hands and didn't quite understand what I was supposed to do. There was a huge slit in the back and I didn't want my behind to be exposed. I blushed at the thought. My nervousness increased but decided to try the gown.

I got off the bed and attempted to take off my shirt, but I felt too weak. My knees buckled under me and I fell to the hard white floor. I sighed in frustration. I had never gone this long without food. I had always managed to find at least something to munch on. My body was at its limit and I was in a new environment I had never been in. Next thing I knew, I started to cry. I felt sorry for myself. I was so pathetic and useless. Was this my life? Always hiding and running and starving in the streets?

The door to the room opened abruptly, but I hardly noticed in my despair.

"Kiona?" Yumichi asked, closing the door behind him and kneeling beside me on the floor. His right arm reached around me and grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and handed it to me. I took it graciously and looked into his eyes. I was surprised suddenly, when I noticed his blue eyes kinda looked like mine.

"Are you alright?" He asked me, his face etched with worry, putting his hand on my shoulder in reassurance.

I nodded and looked down to the floor. Trying to fight back my tears, I started to attempt to stand up again. I shook as I got to my feet and Yumichi helped me by holding my arm.

"I'm sorry." I whispered as I sat back down on the bed.

The doctor smiled at me, "Don't apologize." He reached down to the floor to grab the gown I had dropped during my breakdown. "I can help you with this if you don't mind?" He asked, holding up the gown.

The thought of a stranger helping me change clothes embarrassed me greatly, but at this point, I was too exhausted to argue or say no. I nodded and he helped me change. He began hooking me up to the monitors and to an IV.

"I just need to grab some stuff, I'll be right back." he told me pleasantly, exiting the room once again.

I closed my eyes and I felt like I was drifting on a cloud. At last I felt what a bed was like. To me, it was heaven. Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.

However, my dreams this time were not happy at all. Darkness swirled before me and the smell of blood filled the air. I was walking through a dark street in dirty rags and I stepped in blood puddles as I walked. I just kept walking forward, hoping to find some light when Jiao appeared before me in my nightmare. He held his pale hand toward me as if asking me to grab it. I screamed no and tried running away, but I couldn't move. He grabbed my arm and harshly pulled me toward him.

"No, no no!" I kept shouting, but I kept getting pulled until finally, I felt a knife swipe across my neck.

I woke up unexpectedly in a hot sweat and my breathing heavy. The monitor to my left was beeping loudly and a nurse was asking me if I was okay. I clutched my chest in pain and closed my eyes. I had never had a nightmare like that. The nurse felt my forehead and I thought I heard her say I had a fever. I didn't respond, but continued to keep my eyes closed, in hopes I could just hide from everything.

Yumichi rushed into the door then and asked the nurse what happened.

"I heard the beeping." she explained, "and she was yelling and breathing rapidly."

Yumichi nodded and asked the nurse something in hushed tones and she left the room, closing the white door behind her. He took a seat on the stool to my left by the monitor, and put his hand on my forehead.

At last I opened my eyes and he noticed.

"What happened?" he asked me quietly, keeping his hand on my forehead.

"Ni..ni..ightmare." I stuttered. I felt my whole body shaking and I felt so cold.

Yumichi just watched me for a minute, unmoving until I calmed down. The overall shock was dissipating and I began to feel normal again. The beeping on the monitor slowed down and the volume decreased.

"Feeling better?" He asked me, when I felt the color return to my cheeks.

I nodded slightly, staring down at my lap. I felt ashamed at my breakdown from earlier and now freaking out over a stupid dream. I felt like such a weakling now.

"You are not a weakling." Yumichi reassured me, finally taking his hand from my forehead.

I glanced up in surprise; it was as if he read my mind.

"I took care of the stitches while you slept. It was a quick procedure." He said to me, trying to get eye contact with me, "However I really do need to contact your parents?"

Still not looking at him, I shook my head. Yumichi sighed.

"What is your last name?" He asked me more sternly.

I felt like crying again. Why, why did I feel so vulnerable right now?

"I don't know!" I finally shouted in frustration. The pressure was too much right now. I hide my face in my hands in shame while, once again, I started to cry.

Yumichi finally began to understand the situation, "don't know your last name and you won't tell me who your parents are...I finally see." he said slowly.

I continued to bawl into my hands. We both remained silent for a moment when Cairo walked into the room and quickly stopped in his tracks when he read the situation.

"I can come back later..." he began to say, but Yumichi caught him off, "Now is fine, take a seat."

Cairo frowned, closed the door and took a seat to my right on the other stool.

"What's this about, Yumichi?" He asked seriously, glancing at me on the bed and back to Yumichi again.

"I need a test..." Yumichi said kinda quietly, trying to hint something to Cairo without me catching on.

"Test?" Cario asked loudly, apparently not getting the secretive tone of the conversation, "is she sick?"

Yumichi put his hand on his face in annoyance and Cairo sighed, "What then?" he asked Yumichi again.

"DNA test!" Yumichi responded loudly, giving up on keeping things hushed , "I need to know who her parents are, or any family at all. We can't just let her leave on her own, she's a child."

A look of realization crossed Cairo's face.

My crying stopped, but I kept my face hidden. I was listening intently to the conversation between the two men. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know who my parents were. For all I knew, they could both be dead.

"Fine." Cairo replied as he stood up, "Just let me take some blood and I can have the test ready in a few hours."

Yumichi stood up too and thanked Cairo, "That's why you're my best friend."

Cairo grunted and began reaching for a syringe, but Yumichi stopped him.

"I'll do it." He told him, grabbing the syringe from the drawer in the back of the room.

I uncovered my face and panic coursed through my body yet again. I hated syringes; I had shots every day while I was imprisoned and I did not want anymore.

"No!" I said loudly as Yumichi inched closer to me. He looked startled at my reaction and then he face softened.

"It won't hurt, I promise." He tried consoling me.

I shook my head violently and crossed my arms stubbornly.

Both men looked confused at my attitude, but Cairo merely said, "Well, we can just do a mouth swab?"

Yumichi nodded and set the syringe down on the side table and raised his hands up as if showing me everything was going to be okay. "No blood will be taken, okay?" He asked me calmly.

I said nothing, but lowered my guard slightly.

Cairo grabbed a mouth swab and gently wiped the inside of my mouth. He looked really annoyed for some reason and I gave him an annoyed look in return which may have annoyed him more, but I didn't care.

He put the swab in a bottle and started to leave the room, "I'll be back when it's done." he announced to the room and quickly slammed the door behind him.

Yumichi shook his head at the behavior of his partner. No doubt felt embarrassed to be associated with such an angry man.

"Um, doctor?" I asked quietly, snapping Yumichi from his reverie.

"Uh yes? You can call me Dr. Takada." Yumichi said to me, sitting back down on his stool to my left.

I nodded and said, "Could I possibly get some food?" and right on cue, my stomach growled.

Yumichi got up quickly and looked ashamed of himself, "Yes yes!" he replied, rushing for the door, "I completely forgot, I'm so sorry, I'll be right back." And he was gone.

At last, I thought, food!