1 Target Project Origin.

Quick Breaths. Burning Air. Blood soaked hands. A patter of feet. Cocking of guns. Alarms so loud it left an uncomfortable ringing noise in her ears. Long blonde hair waving in the darkness. A cold steel blade gripped in her chapped left hand. Accustomed pain in her head. Bare feet against sharp ragged rock.

"All units to the west reef, the target is Subject 1142. Approach with extreme caution." The nearby beeps of walkie talkies alerted her of their position to which she placed the blade in her teeth and hung from the rock beneath her feet. Crashing waves and the bitter smell of salt floated up from below. Slowly after five minutes of them frantically trying to find her the joints in her fingers were beginning to fail. There was no hope here anymore, no morals. All she could do to survive was to fall and rise where she could.

"We've lost sight of the target sergeant. Should capture be lethal or method of sedation?" The young girl listened closely, the answer could change everything...

"Target is to be taken unharmed under the order of directer Kobayashi." A slight sigh of relief escaped her lips, which meant she had a chance. Time was running out and her body couldn't hold much longer gravity working against her. This facility was secluded surrounded by sea it's only passage boats that were only accessible by Military Workers. That only left one option...she could have to swim. Quietly she prepped herself secretly terrified.

"It's okay you can do this. What was training for if not for this, don't think about it just do it!" With that, her fingers let the rubble fall with her as she dived into the freezing sloshing water below. Icy waves enveloped her stealing the last breaths she had, as she peaked from the warning waters the certain sight of mesh and barbed wire were becoming more distant by the second. Flashlights danced around the rural island looking for their precious slave. How long had it been since smelling the fresh open air, how long had it been since feeling such freedom. Never. Never was the answer because this was where she took her first breath and told she would take her last.

Not anymore, never again. With that mindset masking her insecurity of the place that the vicious sea would take her, stroke after stroke struggling to keep her head up, often blinded by a curtain of blonde hair. Gradually her awareness of the dropping temperature spooked her causing those little arms to go faster and faster. There must be something out there, someplace she could thrive. Perhaps different people existed in this world, people not dictated by the director.

A kind place where she could sleep when she wanted and eat when she wanted. Not a place principled by violence and obedience. Anywhere like that was her paradise. It felt like months until her drained body hit something hard. Delirious through exhaustion she looked around at the quiet area around her. Something crunched underneath her feet startling her, cautiously she tried to pick it up but it crumbled in her hand. What was this orange substance?

No. This wasn't what she needed to be thinking about, teams of armed soldiers would be on her tail she needed to hide. Looking around for something familiar she saw some concrete steps on the left of the space and darted for them as quick as her numb legs could carry her. As she reached the top her body froze up blinded by the sight of large signs in the air and tall building. Was there something that big in this world? And the noises were overwhelming...beeping horns, voices, and chatter from all around. Listening closely they all spoke the same language which let ease into her heart at least she could ask for help. Scuttling along in bare feet soaked to the bone she went to approach a couple linking along the street but stopped clearing her mind.

The only time she had ever approached someone was to...kill them. She didn't even know how to have a real conversation, wouldn't they be afraid seeing a girl like her like the soldiers were back at the facility? Suddenly the idea of asking for help was terrifying, even her senses were twitching through instinct telling her to eliminate the targets. Why did she want to run over and break their necks, she didn't want that. Then came the battle of minds, to outsiders she looked like a zombie whereas inside of her tired brain all tactical orders were raging war until she could no longer take it. She needed to run away from people before she hurt them.

I'm afraid of myself. What if I hurt them. I don't want that. I'm tainted, I have no right to be with them. I swore I wouldn't. Please don't make me.

Thoughts rushed through her head as she ran aimlessly her stamina wavering until eventually, her feet tripped over a trash can sending her flying onto the cobbled backstreet. Hissing she rubbed her bleeding knees, even the bottom of her feet were shredded from walking on the rocks. Honestly, what was the point in escaping if she couldn't do anything? There was no way the people here were anything like her she could see immediately. They smiled at each other, touched one another without hurting them. No-one carried guns and knives all of the time. They weren't forced to kill each other.

Sliding down to the floor she looked up at the clear black sky and watched the small raindrops invade her new surroundings. Water didn't bother her but the cold did. Soon her eyes stung and blurred as the rainfall became heavier until it felt like bullets were hitting every organ. Being free was painful and scary. What else could she do...

Meanwhile...

"Boss, we should close now there's a storm so customers won't be coming until tomorrow." A young man stood at the counter of a popular fruit shop in Chuo City, Japan. It was well known for its fresh products and cheap prices. Its main counter assistant was the usual highschool student sneakily earning money for his use, but he wasn't a bad person at all. If anything he was outcasted for being quite the pushover at high school, but he didn't like upsetting people. Kaido Yumehara, age 16. Hair color brown, style natural cut. Eye Color, Brown. Built, Lean and small. Height 5"10

"You don't have to tell me brat I have eyes. Take the trash out first then you can go." Kaido sighed looking at his boss smoking out of the shutter under the Meranda looking out at the empty street. This man was more of a mystery, people knew him formally but not personally. Even Kaido who had worked there for a year now. His voice was usually unenthusiastic as well as sarcastic at the same time if that were possible, he was a rough well-built man who always had a cigarette in his mouth. Still, Kaido looked up to him, his name was Seiji Fukushima. Hair Colour, Black with slight stubble. Eye Colour, Green. Height 6"2.

Kaido, "Sure. I'll be back." Seiji glanced over, that boy was an idiot in his way he didn't even take an umbrella, well it wasn't his fault if he caught a cold. Seiji picked up an apple and began knawing at it in a daze his arms hung over the counter.

Outside...

Kaido, "I really should have brought an umbrella." he sighed hauling the trash bag over his shoulder and darting into the backstreet before he was soaked. Groaning as he threw the bag into the disposal he clapped the dirt off his hands and went to turn back when something caught his eye. It was almost impossible to see with the downpour but something bright was at the end of the alley. Maybe it was a cat he thought or maybe a little dog, thinking they wouldn't survive very long in this weather. His kind nature came over him and he toddled over holding his hand over his brow to see better. Step by step the image got clearer until finally, he could make out...feet? No that couldn't be right.

Suddenly his heart almost burst to see a young girl laying lifeless before him, but something was strange her clothes looked different and her hair color didn't look normal. It was a white bodysuit like people wore in prison and her hair looked like she was a foreigner. Feeling uneasy he decided the best decision was to get Seiji if anything happened, Kaido was weak and stood little chance against anyone of this was a trap. Quickly he ran back storming through the back door.

Seiji rolled his eyes and stared at him until he saw something fearful in his eyes, even his breaths were panicked.

Kaido, "Boss, t-there a girl in the back street she looks in bad shape!" Seiji squinted, there shouldn't be any children in this area he knew it well, this was a worker village. Slightly intrigued but annoyed thinking maybe Kaido had spooked himself again he casually plodded outside taking his umbrella like a rational person. Water dripped from Kaido's bangs as he hid behind Seiji's sturdy tall back. What the hell was this kid talking about there was no girl here?

Seiji, "Well where is she then?" Getting impatient and doubting his claim he turned to leave when Kaido's hand pointed at something in the distance. He squinted through the rain and almost dropped his umbrella. Immediately he rushed over and turned over the child, she was beaten up pretty badly and showing signs of hypothermia.

Seiji, "Kaido get some warm towels and blankets straight away and clear my bed upstairs!" Kaido was stunned that was the first time he'd heard him raise his voice, he didn't even yell when he dropped all of the fresh apricots.

Kaido, "Um y-yeah I'm right on it!" Seiji scooped up the little girl and ran back inside with her over his shoulder, her lips were blue and her complexion didn't look good. He placed his hand on her head, she was running a fever too. He may be an old uncle but it didn't take much to identify the desperation on her face even with her eyes closed. Soaked through to her core and feet bleeding from running. Seiji looked at her with such pity.

Kaido, "Boss I cleared the bed is she okay?" Seiji shook his head and walked briskly upstairs. Kaido followed worriedly behind peeking at the little girl's face twisted in pain hanging over his shoulder. Compared to Seiji she was a little dot.

Seiji, "There are cold compresses in the bathroom cabinet, get the for me." Slowly he lowered the girl down onto the bed. What a state for a child to be in, he thought where the hell were her parents or was that who she was running from. Soundly she lay there panting her long blonde hair curling due to the humidity. Firstly, he needed to get her out of these clothes. It was an uncomfortable task but someone had to do it. Kaido returned with the first aid kit and turned away seeing her naked, Seiji hadn't even batted an eye and put one of his oversized t-shirts on her immediately.

Kaido, "Here, should I call the police?" Seiji sighed and looked at the little woman ahead of him. Wouldn't that be an injustice to her effort? Looking at her feet and knees as well as broken fingernails, escaping from wherever she used to be didn't look like a walk in the park.

Seiji, "No, I'll deal with it when she wakes up." Kaido obediently nodded and watched as Seiji gently put on the cooling pad to her head and began dabbing her feet with cotton buds soaked in antiseptic. Somehow it was a little amusing seeing such a huge man being so gentle as if she was made of glass.

Kaido, "S-She doesn't look from around here I've never seen a blonde girl in Chuo City before." Seiji finished tending to her wounds and began smoking on the balcony not once taking his eyes off her. Truthfully he'd never seen this either and he knew all of the people in this city. Maybe she was a shut-in child hidden by her parents and perhaps she'd had enough and escaped.

Kaido, "What are you gonna do?" Seiji shrugged his usual nonchalant attitude shining through, Kaido carefully kneeled over tucking the blonde hair behind her ear. Poor kid, he thought, his life wasn't exactly perfect but she looked so scrawny and young. It wasn't fair. As he moved the hair away from her sweating neck he felt something soft and bumpy startling him. Seiji saw the alarmed look on his face and threw away a full cigarette to investigate. Kaido has practically pushed aside as Seiji lifted up her head and moved her long blonde locks. Both of them stared in awe. It looked like something cattle were given for identification.

Kaido, "Jesus Christ...what the hell is that?" Seiji's looked spooked and frozen worrying Kaido even more. In bold letters engraved on her bare skin was:

S-1142

It wasn't just a wound, it was a brand. This child belonged to someone as a possession. Seiji felt a chill run down his spine, unfortunately he knew about this. Kaido was too innocent to know about such a brutal way of life so he decided to relieve him.

Seiji, "Go, home kid, come back tomorrow when she wakes up." Kaido nodded his head hesitantly, surely the girl would be afraid of waking up to his boss, his face wasn't exactly friendly. Still, Seiji wasn't asking...

Kaido, "Um...just be nice okay she's just a kid." There was no response as he continued smoking. Sighing giving the little blonde bird one last sympathetic look and toddled off home. Seiji watched him leave and like a machine, he began closing and locking the doors. Removing the lamps, draws and all material in the bathroom.

Kaido was blind this girl wasn't a kid at all. Seiji pulled a chair on the far side of the empty room and watched her quietly breathe in slumber. Maybe this was a punishment he thought or perhaps even fate to mend his past mistakes. Either way, he knew one thing...when that girl opened her eyes. No-one was safe.