Pulling up to the hospital, Ryan got out and opened the backdoor to let the two teens out. "We'd best make a run for it!" He shouted, his voice raised over the down pour of water. For a brief moment, the darkening sky light up with blinding light as a bolt of lightnight streaked through the clouds. A few seconds later, a tremendous BOOOOOM split the air, followed by the resounding rumbling of the dying thunder.

Throughout the entire car ride, she had been shaking. Every time Ryan stopped, her hand would slide to the door handle as she debated whether she was to bolt or not. Your fine, Hunter. Your okay. Each time, she'd talk herself out of it. When they reached the hospital though, terror gripped her throat and strangled her. I... Then Ryan was telling her to get out and run. Running she could do. She bolted now, heading inside as fast as she could. White. So much white. That terror she was filling? Well now it was upped until she could barely breathe. She sucked in a breath, shaky as it was and watched. Lights, white, people. So many people. Doctors, nurses. More people. She turned around, ready to face Ryan. You know what? You don't owe me anything after all. My arm feels great, never better. She tried to get past him and back outside, ready to bolt out the door and get away from the sounds, the people. So many people.

Ellie looked around while she was in the vehicle. It had been a long time since she had been so close to anything so expensive. She almost didn't hear the cop telling her to get out through the pouring rain. But she got out, waiting a while to feel the refreshing rain before entering the hospital. She walked slowly, for she was used to being exposed to the elements. Upon entering the building, her long, red hair seemed to be darkened and weighted down by the rainwater. "This isn't how I remembered hospitals being..." She said nervously. "It's so...crowded."

Making sure the two made it inside safely, Ryan began to lead the duo towards the waiting room. He first approached the front counter, asking for medical assistance reguarding the radio call he had previously made. However, the tension that the two girls felt became quickly apparent, and he paused in his talking with the nurse and turned to adress the girls, "No one's going to hurt you here, understand? I wouldn't let that happen...." As he tried to assure the teens, Hunter took off. "Hey! Shadow, wait!" Ryan yelled out. Hesitating a moment, he spoke quickly to Ellie, "Take a seat over there, I'll be right back!" After pointing to the row of chairs, the officer bolted after the other teen.

He nearly slipped on the wet floor, but caught himself at the last moment. Cautious of her wounded arm, Ryan reached out to grab her other shoulder and stop her before she reached the doors... "Hang on a second, will you!?"

She was nearly out the door and to freedom when she felt his hand grab her shoulder. I can't be here, I can't I really can't. They'll take me back, and I won't go back. They can't make me go back. Terror. Pure, undiluted terror was in the young teens eyes, as she struggled and tugged. It wasn't anything Ryan couldn't handle. She hadn't eaten in some time, and with each struggle fire shot through her arm and pierced her entire body. I won't be another teen statistic. She pulled as hard as could trying to get away, but it ended with her finally breaking down and a sob could be heard coming from her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she whispered I won't be put back into the system.

Where there was first a hint of frustration in his dark brown eyes, sympathy and determination quickly took its place. Now he understood more of what troubled the teen, and her fears made her actions understandable. Yet this wasn't his department to mess with... but wasn't that why he became an officer and investigator in the first place? To have a hand in putting away the bad guys, and saving the innocent?

Lowering his voice to a quieter, more compationate tone, Ryan tried to reason with Hunter, "Don't worry about that, Shadow. I know of a great place you can go to, just a few minutes from here. It's like a mansion, and they've got horses..." Oh shit... what was he getting himself into again? Thinking without speaking once more; that usually got him into trouble. He hadn't actually met the owners of the shelter yet, and didn't know much of anything about it. Did they have room for Hunter? What if they didn't, and all he said was just a lie? He could only hope it wasn't...

"Come on now, just let the nurse check out your arm. I'll take you and..." Ryan looked to Ellie, realizing he hadn't gotten her name yet. Oh great, that looked real good. "...her... to the Shelter tomorrow." Shelter? That makes it sound like a great place... He scolded himself, but didn't know what else to call it. With a hand still on her shoulder, Ryan attempted to guide Hunter back to the waiting room, hoping that a nurse would be there.

Ellie nodded as Ryan spoke, taking a seat on the chairs. She watched the younger teen run for it. She had been "wild" for 10 years. Without home; without a real family. The only friend she had was an old man who told outlandish stories. That was only until he was killed trying to defend her from some gangsters.
She stood up and yelled to Hunter, "Hey! Girl! You don't know what it's like to be wild, so don't even think about it!" She quickly shut her mouth and sat down, watching the people go by through her bright green eyes.

When Ryans eyes took a look of sympathy, hers took a look of fury. No. Don't you Dare Look at me like that. She struggled out of his grip, then folded her arms across her stomach. I'm not like the other kids. I won't be one of the other sorry ass kids complaining that lifes not going there way. My lifes fine! I have a loving family and a place to go home to. I don't need to go to some shelter. She strode past him, her head held high, even as the nagging thoughts went through her mind. Lies.... He'd know she was lying, how could he not? With her babbling, she had basically spilled her entire story. Then Ellie spoke. Maybe she shouldn't have, for all the fury and self loathing had built up to a its high point inside of the fifteen year old, and she whirled upon the other. Don't you dare, begin to even think you know me! You don't know who the Hell I am, or what the Hell I've been through. YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME! People were staring, she knew it but she didn't care. She was to angry to even begin to care.

Ellie glared at Hunter. "What you have been through?!" Shye snapped. "Listen, little girl. I have been kidnapped, abused, harassed, and everything you can think of. I know exactly what you face. In fact, I know better! I have been wild for most of my life. Without family, without anything. I live off the streets, and I take the punishment and hateful glances from those who think they're better than me. So before you think I don't know anything about what you've been through, learn about what I've been through." She tucked her hamster's box under her arm, protecting her from the "insane" girl.

A glint of silver. Thats all there was as a knife came from Hunters back pocket. She was on Ellie in a second, and her knife hand raised to the other teens throat. I've been raped, abused, both sexually, physically and mentally. I've been locked in a closet for days at a time because I wasn't daddys little angel. Tell me, you little bitch. Were you ever thrown into a closet? Did you ever feel your fathers hands groping you? Your mothers constant screaming at you, throwing pots and pans at your head? No, these two would not work out with one another. She was off of Ellie, and she turned to the nurse. Get this bullet out of my arm. I'm leaving in five minutes. She waited, anger coursing through her.

Ellie stepped forward and looked at the younger teen. "My parents were murdered. The same man who kidnapped and abused me in every way imaginable murdered my parents. They died defending me. It only happened again while I was on the streets. I had no family and only an old man and a hamster I could call friends. And yes, I was shoved into a closet. Again, by the same man who murdered my parents. Then I was thrown into the trunk of a car until my friend was kind enough to report me missing. I was half-dead when they pulled me out." She narrowed her eyes. "They shot at me, abused me, threatened me, and tried to kill me. It was only the sad old man who could protect me, but they took him too. Oh, what I would give for a life like yours." She looked at Ryan. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go to the alleys." She said, waiting for his answer. "It would be much better than waiting here with the kid who thinks she's perfect."

Thats it! I'm fucking out of here. Have a nice somewhere else, cop. I'm done here. With that, she turned and walked out her head still held high. Her arm was hurting something fierce still, but she wasn't about to stick around with Ellie and her 'friend'. Why don't you take her to the Shelter of yours, pig? God knows I won't be going there. She sneered at them both, then turned and walked back out into the storming weather, her head down against the elements and her eyes closed to hide her tears. Shut up, you little bitch! *slap* Don't you cry! SCREAM! I want you to scream for Daddy. Tell daddy what your feeling, honey. What are you feeling. Does this hurt? Tortured screams filling the air. Hunter sobbed. She knew she wasn't perfect, and she hated that she wasn't. With perfection, came love.

Ellie huffed as Hunter left. "Foolish child." She said under her breath. Then she looked up at Ryan, still holding the box tightly. "Can I go back outside now? I'm good living on the streets. Honest! I don't need a home. I mean...I already have one." She begged, stepping back. The truth was that she was afraid of older men.
Her mother had always told her that as long as she has faith in the Lord, she would be fine. With the Lord came love; not perfection, and not anything the world can give you.

When Hunter pulled away from his grasp, Ryan relented and didn't grab a hold of her again, hoping he could talk some sense into her. Before he had a chance at that, Ellie spoke and a cat fight was on. "Hey! Shadow, don't do it!" He yelled, sprinting to the teen as she flashed a knife out. Yet the blade was put away before he had a chance to take it away. More verbal fighting took place, and he learned a heck of a lot more than he wanted to about the teens, though now he had more reason and drive to try and find them a safe place to live.

"Shadow, wait!" The officer called, gritting his teeth slightly at the harsh words and the derogatory name flung at him. He let it slide, figuring she had dealt with bad cops in the past, and had a reason to see him as the bad guy. I'm not giving up on you that easy. Sohmers thought while he watched Hunter storm outside, into the swirling darkness. He would have gone after her, but that would mean leaving Ellie alone. If anything, he'd at least get one of them to a safe haven for the night, and Ellie seemed more cooperative of the bunch.

Rubbing a hand over his face in exasperation, Ryan turned back to Ellie as he forced himself to remain calm and collected. Ignoring the stares and whispers from the patients and staff in the waiting room, he spoke to the remaining teen, "I don't think your friend's home will last long in weather like this." He commented, nodding to the cardboard box, hoping to use the hampster to win Ellie over. "It's not too late yet..." Ryan began, quickly checking his watch to see what hour it was, "...how about we stop by the pet store, and get your friend a real home?" Ah, here we go again... why did he always speak before thinking? How much did hampster cages cost, anyway? Well, it couldn't cost TOO much... could it? "Then we can stop by the shelter, and check it out. I'm sure you'll love it." Lies, lies, lies... what did he know of shelters? Nothing, that's what. But he figured it would be better than braving a night out in the open, during such a torrent as it was outside.

Ellie sighed when Hunter was out of sight. What have I done? She asked herself. The cardboard box in her hands was dripping wet, and she felt it was time to find a new one. But she almost smiled when Ryan spoke of getting a real home for the hamster. She nodded and walked towards the door. But before she opened it, she looked back at the cop. "The people at the shelter are nice, right? Will they ever die?" She asked. She has had bad experience with friends, having more than too many taken away from her.

Waving off a nurse who was heading their way, Ryan proceeded towards the door with Ellie. Hunching down slightly in brace of the rain, he stepped outside and headed quickly for the car, "Nice? Yeah, they're very nice out there." Ryan lied, but with good intentions. In reality, he had no idea what kind of people these were. And if they did turn out to be bad, he'd find another place for Ellie. Now came the hard question... something he couldn't lie about. "Well... you shouldn't worry about that right now." Not the best answer, but he was afraid to say the wrong thing.

Ryan opened the door to the backseat to let Ellie in, then quickly hopped into the driver seat. Wiping raindrops from his forehead, he started the car and headed for Kate's Kritters.