The Kurukawa Legacy

Escape

Over the course of the next few days, Atreyu and Kaitlin met up everyday at the cafe, same time as the day they first met, when it's most quiet.

Kaitlin had to make up an excuse for being late to the literature club to hand the teacher back the keys, which takes place once a week, unlike most other clubs, but luckily she didn't get punished. Atreyu, on the other hand, was stressing out over their plan to escape.

This won't be too hard, right? He thought to himself. Just one security guard and one gate. It's just a school.

Kaitlin and him were eating sandwiches when she asked, "So, what do you plan on doing once you're out? You won't be able to get a job or anything, right?"

"Actually, I still have family. They'll gladly take me in." he replied.

Kaitlin looked shocked. "Weren't they all... killed?" she asked.

"Not all. Most, yes, but for a family that committed mass g******e, we'd have to be pretty big, right? I have an... uncle, I think, who lives on a farm South from the city."

"Is that where you plan on heading?"

"Yes."

Kaitlin looked down.

"If you escape from this school... won't that give you a criminal profile? Since you're breaking the law set against you?"

Atreyu took a bite from his tuna sandwich. "I'd choose being a criminal over a slave anytime."

"I see." Kaitlin said. "If I help you escape, won't that make me a criminal too, then?"

Atreyu gagged. He couldn't believe he didn't think over what consequences would follow for her side.

"I..." he froze. He didn't know what to say.

If she won't be willing to take the risk, the plan won't work, since he needs her fingerprint to get out.

"N-not if... they find out."

How selfish, he thought to himself. The only person who's cared about me... and I don't care about her?

"I mean..." he broke a sweat, "we don't have to do it. I can't risk your life for a selfish act like this."

"No." she said. "Not if they find out... we'll do it at night."

"Kaitlin, that's a smart idea... but, this is your choice, are you completely sure you're willing to help me?"

"Yes. You don't deserve all this pain you get just because of what your family did."

He smiled. "We'll do it then, tonight."

A few hours passed. Atreyu laid on his bed in the room, which was on the first floor of the boarding school. He stared at the watch on the wall, which showed the time to be 9:30. Outside his window he saw nothing but darkness and a few streetlights in the distance.

It's almost quarter to ten, I should get going.

He walked out of his room, and out of the building. He followed one of the cobblestone pathways until he was about 20 meters away from the school's main gate. From what the one streetlight could illuminate, he saw the 5 meter high iron gates, a small building about the size of a shack next to it, and a fingerprint scanner on both sides of the gates. He waited a bit until finally he saw a figure walking towards the gates, which Atreyu figured must be Kaitlin. Kaitlin put her finger on the scanner and it flashed a green light and made a clicking sound, opening the gates.

"What are you doing out here so late?" he heard a man ask from within the small building. Kaitlin muttered something about homework, hiding her voice rather well. "Alright," the man replied, and Kaitlin continued walking.

Atreyu called her over softly, and she came. They greeted each other.

"You actually came." Atreyu said. He suspected there might be a chance she'd abort the plan for whatever reason, but it seems she genuinely cared about him. She was wearing a large hoodie to cover her identity.

"I told my parents I was going to eat out with some friends, not illegally help a member of the Kurukawa family escape," she chuckled. She seemed rather calm about this, but Atreyu noticed she was a little bit shook about the plan. If anything goes wrong, the punishment could be severe.

"Thank you," he smiled, though it could barely be seen in the darkness, "Now let's get out of here."

They slowly sneaked back to the gate. The plan was simple: Kaitlin would create a distraction right after scanning her finger, so the guard won't notice Atreyu slipping past while the gate is open. They neared it and she walked up to the fingerprint scanner. To her right was the small building with the door swung wide open. The security guard sat inside by a desk, doing paperwork. He looked at Kaitlin through the open door. "Back so soon?"

"Yes, I got what I needed."

"Great. Move along, then. Your parents might get worried."

She scanned her fingerprint. The gate clicked and swung open.

"Ouch!" Kaitlin screamed and fell backwards so her back hit the door, slamming it to closed. Atreyu sprinted past, his black rucksack bobbing as he slipped through the gate and ducked behind the nearest tree.

"What's wrong?" the security guard shouted, pushing open the door as Kaitlin moved out of the way.

He stormed out, gun at hand, prepared for any situation. He looked down at Kaitlin, laying on the ground.

"I'm sorry... I hit my knee by accident." she faked pain as she struggled to get to her feet.

"It's that bad?" the security guard asked. "I have a first aid kit in here if you need."

"No, it's fine. I live near school so I'll just walk home, my parents will help."

"You sure, girl?"

"Yes," she replied. To which the security guard sheathed his gun and sighed. "Go along, then." he said and waved her off. She walked limply down the pathway that eventually leads to the streets of the city.

Besides the cobblestone path, it was just green plains, with a bunch of trees scattered around. When she went around a curve, where she was sure the security guard couldn't be able to see anymore, she called out to Atreyu. There was a small bridge jumping over a stream right ahead of them. Atreyu protruded from behind three consecutive trees and walked up to her. He grabbed her hand and whispered "We made it... I'm out."

"It wasn't that hard, after all." she said as they turned and started walking to the small bridge. They both froze. On the highest point of the bridge stood someone, looking down at them. The moon was shining big and bright, creating a dramatic affect.

"Yeah," a voice said, "it wasn't that hard at all. Helping a murderer is easy, since he's already a trickster scum, isn't that right?" That voice sounded too familiar.

The man lit a lighter in front of his face, illuminating it.

Both Atreyu and Kaitlin were shocked.

"...Jason?"