Nia felt a pang of sympathy for him. She knew what it meant to be lost and helpless in this crazy world.

But she couldn't do anything. She was a prisoner, like him. And if she tried to help him, she would only bring down the wrath of Lira and her cronies upon herself.

Having lived for some time under one roof, in constant fear and tension, Nia and Ein realized that they were in roughly the same conditions. They were both prisoners of Lira, both remembered nothing about their past, and both were desperately trying to survive. “We are together. And together we can break free,” the girl constantly thought.

They began to talk, sharing their thoughts and feelings. But Nia was cautious. She had learned not to trust anyone in this crazy world.

Having once made a mistake with trust, Nia decided not to tell Ein the whole truth about herself. She didn't tell him that her flash drive and bag remained in the hospital, from which she had fled, forgetting about her things. She told him that she had taken nothing from the street on which she had found herself.

Ein, in turn, told Nia his story. He said that he had awakened in the same alley as she. Immediately after his appearance, Lira appeared nearby, who said that she knew him and would take him to a safe place. The name Ein she also came up with for him herself. A trap. She was laying nets.

Nia listened to him with great attention, but doubt crept into her soul. Why had Lira found such a lost and unremembering person? And why did she need them?

Nia told Ein that she also didn't remember her real name. She said that this name had come to her head when she woke up in the alley, and since she didn't remember her real name, she decided that she would consider the name Nia to be hers.

They both understood that Lira was hiding something. That she was using them for some purpose of her own. But what were these goals? And how could they get out of this trap? Together we will find a way out…

After several weeks of careful planning, Nia and Ein decided that it was time to act. They convinced Lira that Nia had begun to regain memories associated with the artifact.

– I remember… I remember that the artifact is hidden somewhere not far from the place where I woke up, – Nia said, trying to look as convincing as possible. – I was scared… of some people in uniform… they looked like policemen…

Lira became wary.

– And what? – she asked.

– I dropped the bag with the artifact so they wouldn't catch me! – Nia blurted out. – I was afraid that they would take it away from me!

Lira frowned.

– Where exactly? – she asked. – Where did you drop it?

Nia pointed towards the city.

– There, not far from that alley, near some abandoned building

Lira looked at one of her subordinates.

– Check, – she ordered. – Search all the abandoned buildings and their surroundings in that area.

The henchman went to the city, leaving Lira, Nia, and Ein alone.

This was their chance.

Nia and Ein exchanged glances. They knew that they had to act quickly. Now or never.

– Run! – Nia whispered.

They turned around and ran in the opposite direction from the city, away from Lira's gang. Lira, stunned by the sudden turn of events, froze in place.

– Stop! – she shouted. – Come back!

Her voice sounded full of anger and rage.

But Nia and Ein didn't stop. They ran, without looking back, knowing that they would be chased. Freedom. It was so close.

Nia, over the months spent in captivity, had memorized every detail of the surroundings. She knew that far from the house where they were kept, there was a small stream, a winding ribbon cutting through the gray landscape. This stream became their hope for salvation.