Morning came swiftly and before they knew it Aya and Mars were rising with the sun. The moving truck would be there early and soon they would be leaving the apartment for good.

  Mars walked out of her room, phone in hand as she checked with the driver and the movers who would be in the vehicle with him.

  Aya was already in the bathroom getting ready for the long journey to Mericross. Mars waited for her to finish before running into the bathroom to begin her own routine.

  “No breakfast?” Aya asked, pouting.

  “We'll get some on the train to Mericross.” Mars said yawning. The truck would be there any minute now, the driver told her he was already coming up on the turning towards their run down apartment complex.

  Aya looked out the window in time to see the truck pull into the driveway. It was a large orange and yellow van, with the company logo printed in bold green letters.

  “Cole trucking co.” Aya read. That was a bit tough to say, almost like a tongue twister.

  “Oh perfect they're here, come on Aya we have to let them get packing.” Mars said, tugging on her jacket.

  Aya nodded and watched a pair of burly men exit the truck’s rear. She followed their movements towards the entrance where they were stopped by...

  Lydia.

  The hag held her hand up authoritatively, speaking to the men in what Aya assumed was her usual condescending tone. The men exchanged glances with each other and then took out their phones, no doubt to call Mars, their client.

  Mars picked up, then followed Aya’s gaze to the window where Lydia had stopped them. The dark haired girl sighed deeply and answered the phone, telling them she would be down shortly.

  “Your aunt’s a pain in the ass.” Mars said, pulling open the door and walking down to get the movers.

  Aya watched them argue downstairs, watching in glee as Mars and the pair of movers pushed past the old woman and began their ascent toward their apartment.

  ----------

  The heaviest thing to carry down was Mars’s gaming pod, the men carried it gently, moving at the pace of a snail as they got it into the truck. Aya and Mars helped with the smaller items, taking their clothes, and dishes on a long trip down the stairs.

  The men came up to carry the rest of Mars’s equipment and Aya’s boxed up Revista.

  “Finally moving huh?” Mars said with a grin, she bumped her shoulder gently into Aya’s who smiled back at her.

  “Finally.” Aya said. “I can't wait to get on that train and never look back.”

  The girls exited the apartment complex, the moving van, now packed up, was already on its way to their new apartment in Mericross. In its place was supposed to be a taxi waiting to take them to the train station but it hadn't arrived yet.

  “Huh, the car's not here yet. That's annoying.”

  But there was one more obstacle in their path and that was Lydia.

  “You want to take this one or should I?” Mars asked, ready to spit fire at the annoying old woman who had made her friend’s life hell.

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  “If she tries anything, I got it.” Aya said confidently. They walked past Lydia, ignoring her as they made their way to the driveway so they could wait for the car that would ferry them to their destination.

  “Where do you think you're going?” A voice asked behind them. Aya and Mars turned around to see Lydia’s lip curved in a sneer. The woman stood like a Miasmic creature at the entrance of the building a few meters away from them.

  “You think you have the right to leave this place, your grandmother-”

  “You should probably get some new material, you've tried that already.” Aya said with a shrug, a smug expression overtook her features. “Remember when you said I had nowhere to go? Where's that confidence now?”

  “You can't leave, when Fido gets here-”

  Aya cut her off again.

  “Lydia, does it look like I'm going to be around when Mr. Fido gets here?” Aya asked incredulously. “Look around! I'm leaving.”

  The crone clutched her head in a panic, her emotions were plain to see. If Aya wasn't here they couldn't keep blackmailing her uncle.

  Aya wondered if it was wise to tell her she was on to them, but reasoned that would be stupid. Aya shook her head.

  “Geez, where is that car?”

  “Not so fast.”

  “What is it now?!” Mars barked.

  A car had pulled up into the driveway. Rather than a taxi, a beat up four seater that looked to be on its last legs squeaked into the scene

  Its occupant stepped out with a smirk and one hand in his pocket.

  “Aya won't be going anywhere.” Fido said.

  Lydia gasped and her expression of despair transformed into one of arrogance.

  “You see it's beneficial for us that Aya stays with Lydia, not only are they family but there are certain opportunities that we cannot allow to slip by.”

  “You mean the blackmail.” Aya said in disgust. “We know all about that already.”

  “You two have got to be the dumbest criminals I've met.” Mars sighed.

  Fido frowned, how long had Aya known?

  “Would a dumb criminal do this?” Fido whipped out a gun, but to Mars’s surprise, Aya didn't seem fazed at all. The brunette laughed.

  ‘I knew this girl was not normal.’ Mars thought, meanwhile she looked around for a way to get out of the situation. She was about to tell Aya to run when the brunette spoke again.

  “All that money and you haven't upgraded your car in three years?” Aya retorted.

  “Shut up and put your hand up. You think I'm going to let a stupid brat ruin the best years of my life?” Fido snapped, “I'm surprised Lydia even let you get this far.”

  Mars intended to step forward, she didn't know what she was going to do, but she would be damned if she let anything happen to Aya.

  Fido chuckled and turned the gun on Mars.

  “I remember you, not so tough now with a gun in your face.”

  “Oh brother, all that money and that's the gun you could afford. Well, I suppose any bigger and we'd both think you were compensating for something.” Mars said. She remembered him too, a coward who folded at the first sign of confrontation.

  Fido fumed, his face as red as the peppers Aya had foraged in Moon Valley.

  “Shut up! Shut up!” Fido released the safety of his gun and fired a bullet a few feet away from Mars. He whipped the gun around and pointed it back at her.

  “Give me any more attitude and you won't live to make any more quips.” Fido growled.

  Aya slowly put her hand up but didn't lose her confident expression.

  “Were you ever going to tell me I had family outside of that hag?” Aya asked glaring.

  Fido ran a hand through his greasy strands, trying to maintain his calm.

  “It was best you didn't know, after all, I didn't think you'd be getting out of this city.”

  “Did you plan to keep me here or did you just assume I wouldn't have any dreams or aspirations? A loser, quite like... you.”

  “Watch it.” Fido snapped. “Tell your friend to do as I say.”

  “Mars, put your hands up.” Aya whispered.

  “What are you planning you silly girl?”

  “You'll see.”

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