Aron looked to the empty seat next to him, sighing as he pulled into the parking lot of a gas station. He hated that he had to do this, but Exiles couldn't find jobs anymore. Because of the Screen. It ruined their lives. Now the world was at war, Exiles v. Humans. Aron didn't consider him part of either side, but he would automatically be hunted as an Exile. He pulled on his ski mask and ran into the gas station with his backpack, his right arm angled forwards. He burst in, to a look of surprise on the store clerk. "I don't want your money. I just want water and food." The clerk had a wide-eyed look, but leaned into Aron. "Here's a secret, kid." A tiny flame spouted from his fingertip. "You're not alone. Take what you need, I'll be out soon anyways." Aron smiled and began looting the tiny shelves of the store. Perhaps the peaceful Exiles would pull through. "Thank you, sir." The clerk grinned. "Don't mention it, kid. Us Exiles gotta stick together."

Aron pleaded with his father. "Dad, come on. I don't have to go alone." His father shook his head. "It's too late for me, Aron. People are suspicious, and they'll be coming. So go. Go away from here, away from the fighting. Keep running, son. Keep running until you can finally stop to appreciate how far you've come." Aron could hear the door splintering. "Run." His father said, even as his mouth transformed into snout, his feet into paws. "GO!" His father roared. "Don't come back." He said, and Aron left, looking back at the only place he had ever known, the only home he had ever known, even as he drove away from it. Even as he said goodbye.

She hated having to live life on the run. To go from a warm home and a family that loved you, to out where there was the possibility of danger at damn near every turn. Where it was cold, even on the hottest summer day. Where there was no one that loved you. She hated it. Most of all, she hated being alone and unsure if the next person she ran into could be trusted. Not likely. Most people, even a some Exiles, would kill you and take your things in a heartbeat. She hadn't run into any yet, but they were bound to be out there. They always are.

Ophelia kept her eyes peeled for any possible trouble as she walked through the streets, towards the outskirts of the city. There was a small abandoned house out that way that she had been staying in. It wasn't the best, but it was a roof over her head. Why it hadn't been torn down or bought to be remodeled yet, she also wasn't sure. It didn't matter. She would stay in it as long as she could. Until she had to go on the run again. However long that was.

While on her way, she saw a car pull into a nearby gas station. A boy, who looked no older than maybe 16 or 17 got out and put a ski mask over his face. Ophelia raised an eyebrow, but continued on. She wasnt about to get involved. Even as she came upon the little store, she kept her eyes ahead and her nose out of business that didn't concern her. She just wanted to get home. As soon as she was past the store, Ophelia quickened her pace, but never looked back. The best way to stay alive as an Exile, was to keep to yourself, stay unrecognised, and never use your powers.

Footsteps could be heard in the alley, several of them. Running from a group who were shooting at someone they were trying to capture. Get back here you little bastard! You think you can steal from us! A man yelled while 4 others followed with him to chase after the suspect. Reno was having a bad day. It was already bad that the Exiles were on the run but he had a run-in with members of a crime syndicate that he stole from. He was in their territory and many of these guys were chasing him. Bleeding and high on adrenaline, Reno was trying to concentrate on staying alive.

We know what you are, freak! A few more gun shots went off. Reno turned the corner. He needed to use his power..now! One of the men spoke Hey, call Eddie! To stop a freak, we send a freak. One of the men said. Reno was breathing heavy, rushing to find an opening so to not get too distracted so that he could get out of there. Calming himself, Reno used his ability, creating a portal to the room of an expensive hotel he was staying in. He figured, he'll just get his things and skip town. As he made it, Reno went into his room of the suite to grab his duffel bag. I knew you'd come back here....your scent was way too strong here. You pissed off some very dangerous people. Reno turned around surprised. I know we Exiles are in trouble with the public and we need to stick together but...this is just business...

As the fellow Exile pulled his gun towards Reno, Reno smirked. "Everything that I do...is just business..." He smirked grabbing the small chair next to his bed throwing it towards the gunman but created a portal in front of hi as the chair went through distracting the man while at the same time, Reno rushed towards the window as the man started shooting. Another portal appeared on the side of the gunman, crashing the chair onto the man's head, after coming out the portal. Reno jumped through the portal with his duffel bag and landed at a busy intersection, hitting the pavement while a car screeched at a stop and blew the horn. Stumbling up, Reno rushed from the intersection to a more quiet street and leaned against a wall of a nearby building with blood leaking from his arm. "Alright....alright...keep it together Reno...let's get some first aid..." he said looking at his bloody arm "Damn..." he simply said and continued on with his duffel bag trying to stay out of sight.

Flickering lights, dancing on the linoleum floor. Waving back and forth as if the world itself was falling away.

Norma was collapsed on the floor of a gas station bathroom. Legs buckled underneath, limp hand not really grasping the tube of liquid charcoal at her side. So sick. So tired. Could not even shed a tear for this situation any more. There was more anger than regret. She hated this. She wanted to be a normal kid so badly in the same way other Exiles wanted, but she had never experienced so much as a day in school or having a friend. Here she lay like some kind of disheveled sewer rat, hair a tangled mess, dirty clothes, quite nearly crawling back to this store on all fours in search of what she needed.

The Exile front clerk who worked at this hour had taken pity on her, lending her medicines for the past few days that she'd haul back to that mattress-lined car in the junkyard. Neither had gotten chummy enough thus far to share their names. Norma figured perhaps today was the day to admit to him she had no powered parent to run back to. That she was homeless. Wondered how he'd react. But as soon as she started to tell him, a cold tingle of hesitation ran the length of her body and she shut herself away in the bathroom. She couldn't bother anyone with her problems. She needed to take care of herself now. Like how the adults took care of themselves.

Rolling up onto her feet, waves of dizziness almost knocking her back down, she managed to stumble to the door and pull it open.

Quickly ducking back in, the girl gasped. A man in a mask was holding his arm out threatening the clerk- another Exile? The clerk surprised her by revealing his own power so readily. Three of her kind, together in the same store. The masked Exile gained his trust to boot, allowed to freely loot the place. Still, she wasn't ready to offer her own trust. Fingers gripping the edge tensely, she remained behind the door, peering out through a crack and waiting for him to leave.

Aron looked towards the camera mounted on the ceiling, aimed his hand at it, and with a single concentrated thought, a beam shot out from his wrist and knocked it onto the floor, shattering it. He took off his mask and winked at the worker. “You never know.” He then started looting. He didn’t take too much. The man could always claim there was a robbery, but there would have to be some money missing. “Sir, can I borrow some cash?” The man nodded and handed him about $20. Aron smiled. “Thanks.” He was happily grabbing sodas and chips when he heard the creak of rusty hinges. He mentally cursed. He hadn’t checked the bathroom. Aron quickly turned around in one fluid motion. “Freeze. Right. Now.” His wrist was aimed at the door. It had closed quickly, and he stepped slowly towards it. “Come out with your hands up.” He had been on the road long enough to learn how to take care of himself, and he wasn’t gonna let anybody rob him blind, nor kill him. He tried opening the door. Locked. He aimed his wrist. “I’d back away from the door if I were you.” He fired. It shook, and he heard a hinge break, but still it hung on. He fired once more. So close. He fired again, and finally it fell, falling into the bathroom. He heard a clang. “Back up. Now.”

Ophelia heard a slight commotion coming from the small store she had just passed. Her steps halted and she jerked around, her now narrowed eyes aimed in the direction of said store. Biting her lip, she slowly started walking towards the store, her feet carrying her as if on auto pilot. She was curious as to see what was going on, but also wanted to see if there was anything she could do to possibly help someone. It was how she was. If someone needed help, she would try her hardest to help. Sometimes it was a fault and sometimes not.

When she reached the store, she heard more commotion, and felt her heart start beating faster. This place was being robbed or something and it sounded like someone was trying to bust down a door. Taking a deep breath, Ophelia pushed her way through the doors and into the store. She saw the same man from earlier, the one with the mask, pointing his hand? at a door? He was doing something to it to try to break it down, but he wasn't using his body. He was using... something else.

Without thinking, Ophelia extended her hand towards the man just in case she needed to stop him from doinf anything. Honestly, ahe wasnt even sure she could. He was much bigger than she was used to manipulating. Her eyes flashed from the clerk, to the man, to the door, and the man again, eyes still narrowed. "You're an Exile." It wasn't a question. Rather, a statement.

Eyes flashing back to the clerk, she said, "So are you, or you would have done something by now." Turning her attention back to masked man, Ophelia slowly walked towards him. As soon as she was close enough, she peeked into the bathroom. There, she saw a horribly disheveled girl. "Christ," she whispered. "It's a little girl."

Rattling, the doorknob turned. Norma whined and backed away. She hadn't gone unnoticed.

The first hinge fell to the floor, rolled to her feet. She, likewise, landed on her bottom and slid into the far wall of the bathroom, trying to protect her head with her arm. She cried out as the door finally fell with a clang. Behind, the young masked man with wild eyes. Exiles wouldn't hurt each other, would they? As the door vibrated from the impact, she held her hands over her head as instructed, eyes tearing up.

"Please don't hurt me, I'm like you," she offered weakly. Turning her head away, breathing rapidly, she noticed someone new step into the empty door frame.

Thanks to the ring in her ears from the blasts, she couldn't quite make out what was said except "Christ." More than trying to get a good look, she began scooting closer in an effort to find a decent escape route. Unable to understand the motives at play, why these Exiles were here at the same time, why this one was violent, it hurt her, but it seemed that this place would be yet another unsafe to stay. After escaping, she'd have no choice but to move on.

I spark some fire on my hand, I toss it into some oil drum and fire bust out of it. I was in some ally where I'm the only one here beside the crickets, as I was staring the fire, I though of something that make me smile "I guess i was bringing the heat in this ally" I say as I did drum sound effect after the pun. There was a silent in the ally but only the crickets cricking, sheesh tough crowd.

@King Tai
As I was putting on my backpack, I hear someone say "Damn..." in round the corner of the ally, if I was a normal person, I would ignore that and be on way...but I'm not normal. I was walking toward the corner and take peek, I see was a man with a bleeding arm, I have two options, I would ignore that guy cause what if he is just some guy that just discovered that I have power and would call the police or he just a exiles but a bad one and could kill me, but the other options, I would help out the guy since he could die if I ignore him....dammit I wish my mom didn't rise me so well.

"Um...hey man" I say as I reveal myself to the man "are you all rig-you know what, no, no. you not all right, you are kind of bleeding out" I told him as I rise my hands up. "look, I'm not here steal from you. I'm here to help you...um..i don't have first aid but..." I took off my bandanna "you can um use my bandanna for your bullet wound" I hand him my bandanna.

Okay, Reno at this moment, after escaping trouble, had a dilemma. Either he could portal hop into a hospital and possibly get spotted while trying to steal medical supplies..or...bleed out and possibly pass out from discomfort and maybe get robbed or found by his earlier pursuers. If only he was more careful. Then again...he could break into one of those clinics.

@sassy1085
With a sigh and staying cautious of his surroundings, Reno pushed on and tried to fight the pain until hearing a voice that caused him to unconsciously and out of reflex, pointed his hand towards the open space to his left to prepare and open another portal but realized it was a young female. Reno didn't trust anyone and didn't want to take any chances but he heard the girl out when she explained herself.

His hand trembled from paranoia and pain. The moment he looked at the bandana that she was kindly holding out for him, Reno slowly started to withdraw slowly from having to travel. "Yes..uh..thank you..." He answered softly, keeping his eyes on her and taking the bandana. "I was actually thinking of going to the clinic..." At that moment, Reno realized, why was this girl in the alley? "I know it's none of my business but...this part of town is not very safe...especially being in this alley. What are you doing out here alone?" He asked. Reno didn't want to reveal what he was to her regardless of the reaction and gesture he made when she first called out to him. He's already in trouble with a crime family on top of being an Exile. He didn't need more problems.

[@Marianna Collie]@BoyMom035

Aron heard some steps, entering the convenience store. He turned slowly towards the mystery individual, his hands raised. "You're an Exile." It was a woman, older than him, but still somewhere around his age. His eyes widened, and he wished he hadn't taken off the mask. "Back up! Now!" But immediately after he squeezed out the threat, "Christ. It's a little girl." He cursed, and turned back into the bathroom. "Please don't hurt me, I'm like you." He heard a weak voice cry out. He stepped into the bathroom. "I'm sorry. I'm not gonna hurt you. I was just afraid you would hurt me." He looked to the woman. "And you. Step away. Please. I don't want anybody to get hurt." He picked up his bag with one hand. "I'll be going." He still held his hand towards the woman. "I advise you don't follow me." He grabbed the bottles and bags of chips that had been scattered on the floor, shoving them into his backpack. "Good luck."

Ophelia watched the man as he realized there was a girl in the bathroom, then looked at her as if she were an Exile hunter. He commanded her to stay back and not to follow him. She quickly shook her head and stared at him in confusion. "Wait, you can't just leave." Ophelia looked to the girl and bit her lip. "Stay there, I'll be right back." She then walked over to the man, ignoring his threat. Here, there were 3 Exiles in the same one spot, 4 of the girl was one. It wasn't easy finding other Exiles.

"We need to stick together. Look..." Ophelia looked over at the candy stand several feet away and held her hand out. A Snickers bar suddenly rise up into the air and flew through the air until she caught it. With a slight smirk, Ophelia handed the candy bar to the man. "I'm one too, see?" Her smile faltered and she bit her lip. "Look, I live in a house not far from here. You're all welcome to come and stay." Without waiting for an answer, she made her way back to the bathroom and went inside. Kneeling down in front of the girl, Ophelia smiled warmly. "Will you come? I'll watch after you." She extended her hand to the girl. "I promise."

@Default@Mariana Collie

@King Tai
After I give the man my bandanna, he ask What are you doing out here alone, inside of my brain is racing in panic. crap, what I suppose to say, 'Me? oh yeah I run away from the law because I have super powers which makes me a exile, oh you are going to call the cops? oh ok normal human being' yeah right I would be a great idea to say...just in case if you don't know, I'm being sarcastic.

I need to think something to say and fast....I thought of something to say "Oh well, I have a friend that live here and we doing some homework. I was going to take the bus home but I miss the bus, so that why I am walking"

@BoyMom035
"I'm sorry. I'm not gonna hurt you. I was just afraid you would hurt me." In all her nightmares of being discovered, Norma never had one where she was found by another Exile. He seemed sincere, despite this, and a weight was lifted in her chest. She scooted closer to the door and got up onto her heels.

As she stared out around the doorframe, looking to the exit, the brunette called a bar of candy to her hand. Asking the robber Exile to come along. Her parents had spoken of this type before, though never in the friendly context this woman gave off. Her parents had always made Exiles sound like demons. This girl seemed so far removed from that, bright eyed and ready to help.

"Will you come? I'll watch after you. I promise."

There was debate internally. On one end, fear that this would lead to being caught, on the other, this woman's gentle smile. It ended with a single thought, a reminder that she left her parents because of how they thought of her kind, she knew she wasn't as bad as all that, so she had always felt others probably weren't so bad either. Norma took her hand, standing up. "I...um, ah, I don't..." she struggled with how to say that she didn't have a home anymore. But maybe Ophelia already understood. Why else offer? "Well, um...Thank you, I've always wanted to find someone like me." It was the truth. The girl nervously pulled on her backpack and hid her face in her hands.

Ophelia understood the girl's hesitation. She was an unknown person. It was hard enough being an Exile. It was even harder if you were young, like they all seemed to be. She was actually relieved when the girl took her hand and stood to her feet. Ophelia's smile grew and she too, stood to her feet. "My name is Sphinx... But you can call me Ophelia if you'd like," she offered as she looked at the other two in the store.

Tightening her hand around the little girls, Ophelia walked up to the younger man, the little girl in tow. "You're more than welcome to come too. I know none of us know one another, but we would be stronger, more resilient in numbers." With a heavy sigh, Ophelia looked down at the girl. The old abandoned house near the edge of the city. Can't miss it." She took the girl and they made their way around the man, intending on heading in that very direction. "In case you change your mind," she added before the pair left the store and headed to the house.

This would definitely be interesting. Never before since she left, had she looked after anyone else. She imagined it would be alot like having a younger sister. Surely things wouldn't be too bad. "What's your name sweetheart," she asked as she looked down at her.

@Mariana Collie @Default

@sassy1085

Hearing the girl out, Reno stared at her for a moment but then raised an eyebrow. If she missed the bus, why would she just be in an alley instead of going back to her friend's and stay there? And why would her friend allow her to go alone? This was going through Reno's mind. Sounded odd but it was whatever to him.

Reno took a moment to wrap his arm wound up for the time being, grunting from the pain. he placed his duffle bag down before but he picked it back up. "I see...but this area is still a bit dangerous for you to walk alone." He gave it a moment's thought. "Look, I know you don't know me but...I won't feel right leaving you out here alone like this. It will bother my conscience if I left you here and something happened to you. So...if you don't mind, could I walk with you if you need to wait on another bus? I mean, it's the least I can do for you giving me your bandana to patch myself up before getting medical treatment." he suggested to her.

Reno could easy help her get home thanks to his power or at least get her close to home depending what part of town she lives in and if he's familiar with the area. Still he didn't know if he could trust her enough to expose himself as an Exile. But...then again other Exiles have been hiding and would do the same so he'd never know if someone was an Exile unless they revealed themselves as one.

@King Tai
The man ask me if he could walk with me to wait on another bus, at first I hesitate but then I think that if I take the bus, then I can get out of this town and get on my way. "Sure man, that awfully nice of you. I could give you some money if you are low on some" I say to him

I help him up and walk toward some bus stop. As we wait for the bus, I can't stop looking at his bleeding arm, "um...I know it's none of my business but how do you got shot?"

@sassy1085

"I'm good on money...you don't have to pay me." Reno responded. "I'm just making sure you stay safe...." He reassured her. Walking her to the bus stop, Reno kept a lookout to make sure no one would attack them and to make sure that his earlier pursuers would not find him.

Walking up to the bus stop, Reno's wound was still bothering him a bit. The question she asked him, caused him to look over. He hesitated on answering, looking away from her. "I did something that pissed off the wrong kind of people. And...I was being careless. But...everything should be okay as long as I stay away from them.." He simply told her not wanting to get into detail. He had a question of his own. "So...what do you think about the whole...Exiles existing thing? Think they're interesting? Think they're freaks? Or possibly feel they're innocent or just monsters that need to be capture and thrown into a pit?" He asked her right before a familiar car was about to turn the corner that he really did not want to have a run-in with.

While waiting for the bus, the man ask me about the exiles situation. This is the part it feel like he is up to something but nevertheless I play along and stay calm. "Exiles? oh yeah, they are interesting and i think they are innocent, i mean come on, it not their fault they have super powers all sudden and people are freaking out about it and telling the Exiles they should kick out or outlaws?! Can they just let the Exiles be the new superheroes, like x-man, justice league or the avengers?! they can treat the Exiles like a other human, they have the rights, they are the people, they are-" i stop myself to keep talk, i think i made the guy thinking i'm weird. "Hehehe, um sorry, i just feel really strongly about the situation the Exiles are in right...I hope they are ok" i say to the man.

@sassy1085

At first thought, Reno was a bit surprised to hear how strongly she felt for Exiles. She sounded like one of those protesters that fights against violence towards the Exiles. He had to admit, he appreciated her expression. It's not like people that hate Exiles can really hide their true feelings. And even if they did, Reno was pretty good at reading people's vibes, even though he has no such power. Just her words were enough to make him smirk. He then asked her a question. "Where do you live. I may know the street." He asked her. "I can give you a lift instead of waiting on the bus out here this late." He said while keeping his face hidden from the car that passed by.

@BoyMom035
As the pair left the store and stepped into the sunlight, Norma definitely felt a wave of tenseness overcome her, unknowingly gripping the woman's hand tighter and glancing over her shoulder. Just being out in public felt somehow dangerous, wrong.

Before, she would have ducked into that alley and ran back to the junkyard, but this time there was someone here with her, talking to her.

"My name..." Looking up at Ophelia, she hesitated. "I'm Puppy." She pointed at herself confidently despite its silliness. Inside, she felt a connection to this name she never was able to feel for what her parents had named her. A trio of cars drove by in succession, the girl shuddered falling back on alert.