Lily229

Lily held back the urge to twitch her right eye. "Yes...well do you think you could help me?"

The man leaned forward and moved the piece of hay around his mouth. "Hmmm...looks like Tallion's work." He shook his head. "Sorry girlie. That's an Admin Rope, I can't even break that. Sorry." He cocked his head to one side, as if trying to give her some condolence. "So what'cha do?"

"I don't know!" Lily sat there and told the tale to the man, hoping that maybe once she showed him that she was innocent, he'd convince this Tallion to let her go.

"Hmmm...," the man played with his chin, as if there was something there. "Tallion is a bit hot headed. I understand the rules and everything, but it just seems like you were in the wrong place at the wrong time." He gave her a smile.

"Yeah! Exactly! I'm so glad you understand me! So you'll help me get out of here so I can go home?" Lily's heart soared. She wanted to get out of this horrid, crazy place and fast.

The man's smile softened. "I'm sorry girlie, but I already told you. I can't break an Admin's Rope."

The tears came again but she fought them back. She leaned her head forward so her hair would cover her face. She didn't want the man to know she was going to cry. "Oh...I see. Well thank you for listening to me at least. That really helped me...."

He reached forward and patted her head. "Hey, come on now! I hate it when women cry." His smile was as bright as the sun, he didn't appear to have bathed in a long time but he smelled of lilacs and hope. "Now, don't go around telling people things, but umm..." He rubbed the back of his necked and looked around nervously. "I can't break it, but you can."

Lily's head shot up. "What do you mean I can break it?!"

He shushed her and glanced around wildly. "I could get into so much trouble if anyone caught me. But you look like a nice kid and if I toss you to the lions, I'd never forgive myself." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, colorless orb, about the size of a baby's fist. "This orb will enable you to turn the rope into water, but only for a short time. I can't use it but since you're not a member, they'll never be able to track you."

"I don't understand."

"Just swallow it. It takes nine seconds for things to pass through from the mouth to the stomach. After that, you'll be able to get into the system and change the structure of this rope, but only once. It's a temporary item. Then once you are free, you must run into the woods." *he pointed to his right. "If they catch you, the punishment will be far worse then what you are about to get."

"What?! What if I do something wrong.."

"The item will take care of everything for you, just swallow it and run that's all you have to do." He glanced around wildly. "Make haste, girlie. Tallion will be coming back for you shortly. You don't have much time."

He stood up and shuffled away quickly, leaving Lily stunned and confused. Her heart beat fast as she raised the tiny, colorless orb. What did he mean that the punishment would be far worse? Was she about to do something that would cost her only chances of going home? Her mind screamed with his final words. Make haste, girlie. Tallion will be coming back for you shortly. You don't have much time. She narrowed her eyes at the orb and swallowed it quickly before she could change her mind. It felt slimy going down her throat, she felt it scrap the walls of her esophagus. She silently counted to nine. "Six, seven, eight, nine." Her body pulsated, she gripped her stomach. "Ew gross! I think I'm going to throw up!"

She looked down at her right wrist. The rope was glowing, colors of blue and red blending so perfectly together. Her body moved on its own. She gripped the rope around her wrist and ripped it off. It exploded into bright blue water droplets that splattered around her as they hit the ground. She was too stunned to move, she was free. Condensation was on her wrist. She heard hard footsteps running toward her and she was snapped back into reality. Now, she was on her own.

The soles of her shoes beat fast against the pavement as she made her way through the city toward the woods where the man had pointed. She stole a quick glance over her shoulder, no one was following her. She didn't want to think about it, she saw it as a blessing and continued to run.

Back at the light-post, Tallion and Mika stood there and stood at the puddle of water that use to be the Admin Rope. "What do you make of it Tallion?" Mika asked, although she already knew.

Tallion snarled and bent down to scoop up some water. He let it run through his fingers, it was rough like sand. "She used a Hacker's item. The girl's nothing but a Hacker." He stood up slowly and glanced at Mika. "Sound the alarm! We cannot let her escape!"

Tallion ran off after Lily, leaving Mika there to stare at the puddle. "Oh Lily, how could you?" Her soft face grew stern. She turned on her heels and touched her green square, sounding the alarm to the other Mods, giving them her description and current location.

The man with the hay in his mouth chewed on it nervously behind a building, watching everything happen. He turned back into the shadows of the building and disappeared into the darkness.

Lily had reached the outskirts of the city. She was so happy. She was free. She was going home. A bright light flew past her and landed just inches away from her. She stopped and turned around abruptly. She cursed herself, she should have kept running. She knew, that he would catch up with her sooner or later.

Tallion held his sword high, the tip of it still smoking from the last blast. "Freeze Hacker! That was a warning shot, the next one will not miss. Give up peacefully and I'll see you are not Permently Banned."

Lily stared at him dumbfounded. "H...Hacker?" She was stuck, she didn't know what to do. She looked up as Mika and a few others she did not recognize, showed up behind him. "Mika!"

Mika's stern look faltered slightly then grew hard as rock again.

"Mika! You know this Hacker?" Tallion snarled, but did not take his eyes off of Lily.

Mika raised her staff to Lily. "I thought I did. Forgive me. I will take punishment for showing her the city after we deal with her." The other mods raised their staffs and pointed them at Lily.

Lily was facing the lions, and they were hungry for blood. But not just any blood, her blood.

End of Chapter 2, hope you all liked it ^^

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