Change of appearance

"GRACE!!!"

Grace snapped from her anger, immediately the objects. She held her chest as her lips trembled. She couldn't hold, it hurt her.

"Grace?", Ronin walked to her, snapping his gaze to the man, "What did you say to her?!".

"Only the truth nothing else, you are hiding from her. It's her fault", The man simply said turning his gaze to the TV.

Ronin looked at Grace, before going down on one knee. She didn't even notice him, her eyes could tell her emotions. It was empty and blank.

"Don't believe anything he said", He patted her shoulder raising to his feet, "You should know the words you say to her", He stated.

The man scoffed, "There is no need. We are all doomed anyway".

Ronin took Grace hand leading her to a restroom. She didn't say anything but follow not bothering to check if maybe it will be hell they were heading to. Noticing the silence and blank look only worried Ronin the more.

"Grace, i....."

"It's my fault right?", She cut him off, "I'm the cause of my parents death?"

Ronin pressed his lips into a thin line, he can't let her break down like this. He won't. So he carried her to sit on the sink. He took a good look at her hazel hair that was tied to a ponytail. It reminded of her mother she looks so much like her and she has the eyes of her father, his two friends.

Sighing he loosed the hair band, allowing Grace hair to fall over her shoulders, it so unfortunate he has to cut it.

"Grace i need you to trust me".

She rose her head and all he saw was a cute little buttercup. He chuckled patting her head to comfort her.

"I'll have to cut it. Are you ready?".

"You haven't answered my question".

Her clenched his fist and looked away for a moment. This girl won't stop asking questions that will hunt her in the end.

"I can't answer that now Grace. Maybe in my next life i can answer that", He smiled.

Grace understood what he meant. Will he really leave her alone?. She wasn't scared about the Slayers, but being alone scared her the most. She won't handle it. Like reading her thoughts, Ronin comforted her with a hug, patting her back.

"I will be with your parents and we will watch over you", He said releasing the hug.

She nodded taking a deep breath, "I...i...."

"You don't have to say anything,i have to change your identity".

She allowed him to do whatever he wanted to do. Cutting her hair to the level of her neck and later dying her it it took almost twenty minutes to finish up. When he was done, she looked at a broken mirror, her appearance was different. Her cute face was now covered in mystery, her hazel hair now black. She was different.

"It will confuse the Slayers for a while, by then you'll be at the Base".

"Will this Base protect me?".

"They will protect you. They are your parents family and my family".

She didn't say anything else.If this is how she'll escape so be it,she can't let those people get her.

"We're leaving", Ronin announced taking her hand. She didn't protest but follow. As they left the shop the old man voiced out.

"Don't forget 357. Find me in hell!!".

Grace frowned at the shop entering the jeep, Ronin didn't turn to look back he drove off Immediately as the shop disappeared from her view the next sound made her scream in fright...

"BOOM".

"Well, that was fast. They found you faster than expected", He commented, accelerating his speed, "They won't stop looking for you, bastards", He caused.

Grace fasten her seat belt, her heart pounded to the point that she could hear it. How can they stop them?. She looked at the side mirror, the gas station was burning. Five people has died because of her today, she looked at Ronin. Will he die too?, will he leave her alone?.

'Stop it Grace', She told herself, 'He will not die because of you'.

The trip was silent and the atmosphere was..odd. If their breaths was loud enough, it would have disturbed the silence. Though she trusted Ronin, there was something off about but she couldn't place. She glanced at, his focus was on the road.

Feeling her on him, he glanced at her. Sighing quietly, he pull over at the roadside, Grace didn't understand why, does he want to abandon her?. Thinking about this her eyes became wet.

"I need you to run", He simply said, opening the door beside her, "Run"

She shook her head in disapproval, she knows this situation. No it shouldn't be happening, not again.

"Don't leave me", She said grabbing his hand, "I know this situation. You won't survive. You...you won't survive", her voice began to break due to her uncontrollable sobs,"Don't please..i...i beg you"

Ronin drew her to his embrace, her tears made his heart ache. This feeling that is band from where he grew up. It was forbidden. And somehow this child has managed to break through his icy heart.

"Listen to me Grace, we don't much time. You have run, run like never before. Don't stop, until you find a police officer give them this,", He handed a small chip, "When they ask you who gave this. Tell them, Peter Cole, you hear me Peter Cole", He had to mention it two times even though he could feel some strange activities around, "Grace run".

Grace unhooked her seat belt, running to where ever her legs headed to. Seeing her dash off a smirk curled up coming out of the car.

"I know you're here, Aries".

Aries stepped out of the shadows, her arms crossed,her expression blank. Staring at him she chuckled darkly.

"You are just foolish", Aries said busting off some dirt from her hoodie, "That wasn't a wise decision to let the girl run. My men are after her now".

Ronin nodded in understanding, "When you catch her let me know", He smirked.

Aries frowned, this man. So stubborn, she has being tracking his movements but he somehow manage to escape every trap. It annoyed her.

"Any last words?", She asked stepping forward.

"Yes...", He paused, "I will kill you".

She smiled darkly, "Well that wasn't convincing", She joked.

~~~~~~

Grace ran like her her legs were on fire. She didn't look back, though she was running out of breath, she didn't stop. Her life can't end this way, she can't die this way. After thirty minutes of run non stop, her legs were shaking.

Soon a car drove by, it stopped.

'God help me', She prayed in her heart. Though it was a lonely road and people who comes here maybe to hike or maybe explore the woods.

When the doors of the car open, she had to hold her breath. Men in black walked to her, she didn't look away, one of wearing a turtle neck sweater looked at her.

"She's not the one", He said.

Aries who in the car stepped out and stroll to her, Grace heart jumped in fright. Aries slid her hand into her hoodie pocket, before going down on one knee.

"Why are you here alone girl?", She asked and Skull frown intruding immediately.

"That's not why we're here", He reminded, "Did you see any girl your age?", He asked coldly.

Grace shook her head, "I didn't see anybody. I'm the only one here", She replied.

Aries raised her eye brows, "Really?", She asked inwardly, "Nobody at all?".

"No. The only thing i saw was someone or something running into the woods. I didn't dare to follow, but when....", She paused.

"When what?", Skull asked.

Grace had the urge to slap herself, why does she talk so much, "When...i heard gunshots. I had to run".

Aries found her lie quite believing, "Can we take?", She asked Skull, who gave her the disapproval look.

"No, 357 haven't gone far. Let's go".

They all went back into the car except Aries, she smirked at Grace before clicking her tongue.

"You are good at lying 357", She said raising to her feet, "Should i kill you now?".

Grace shivered, "You know it's me?".

"Those guys over there haven't seen you. But i have, you can run if you want. But let me tell you, i'll come for you".

Aries walked back to her group, entering the car. Grace watched it drive off disappearing from her view until minutes, her word did sent shivers down her spine but not her soul.