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Hannah exited the save house quietly after dropping off two thermas's full of soup, a sandwich and fresh water bottle for Quenton. Thankful that she had managed not to wake him she emerged from the rhododendron bushes without so much as snagging a hair on one of the thin branches.

For the time being she walked along the street utilizing the street lamps for improved visibility till she was far enough away to power up. After about four or so blocks, she hung a right into the same alley way she had used for cover earlier that day when doing a day time 'patrol'... 'surveillance' whatever it would be called.

Pulling her blanket out from her side bag, Hannah draped it over the fence for the time being so she could power up with out it disappearing with her clothes. Reciting the familiar words, her warm coat and pants were unfortunately replace with her non-weather appropriate senshi fuku.

The sudden temperature change due to exposed skin sent an agressive shiver up her spine and goose bumps to form a trail up her arms. Quickly grabbing the blanket she draped the fabric over her head as a make shift hood and wrapped it around her shoulders hugging it close - willing it to become a second skin.

Resigning herself to the fact that this is as warm as it was going to get she propelled herself upward so she could roof hop the majority of the way home - she did promise Delilah she would return tonight ASAP.

Acrucis had made it maybe five buildings away from where she powered up when she sensed it. An overwhelming chaos power signature. Like a sleeping cat being startled awake by a mean child she did the first thing her body told her to do and ran.

Terror stricken that the aura may belong to the one responsible for nearly killing Thraen -though it was only an assumption since she had no idea who did the deed- or the general with the eye patch that murdered the student last month, she bolted in the opposite direction from the signature while consciously avoiding going anywhere near the safe house where Quenton was recovering. She wouldn't dare put him in danger let alone get him involved. She thought that she'd be okay just a quick stop to drop off food then go home what could go wrong? Apparently a lot.

Struggling for air as running was most definitely not her strong suit, Acruci's foot caught one of the roof vents causing her to stumble forward. Letting go of her fleece blanket she sought to catch her self on the ledge before she tumbled over the edge and fell two stories to the concrete below. With a significant amount of uncoordinated effort she cleared the alleyway below landing clumsily on the adjacent roof Please please go away she mentally begged though she knew it was very unlikely they would cease their pursuit.

Having run out of roofs to jump to, Acrucis descended to the grassy field below and stumbled her way into the woods weaving her way between the trees to hopefully slow the predictor down for she knew without a doubt... she was their prey.

Frantically groping her way through the woods at a hastened pace, twigs and branches reached out, clawing at the exposed skin on Acrucis' arms and legs. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, while the pinching sensation in her side grew increasingly unbearable.

Only once did she dare to look behind her, a feeble attempt to catch a glimpse of who the rapidly approaching signature belonged to. Too dark to see anything though the thick foliage, the lack of attention for what was in front of her caused the Senshi of Prayer's foot to hook under an exposed root sending her stumbling forward, the force which ripped the buried limb from the ground eliciting a surprised yelp.

Unable to react fast enough Acrucis hit the ground... hard. An impact that left her hurting and dazed. Try as she might to rise to her feet once again, tears of panic and fear began to fall. Frustrated by her weakness, by her inability to so much as stand she reached out and with the aid of a tree beside her she rose at least to a sitting position.

Back pressed firmly against the rough tree bark, Acrucis sat still knowing it would be too late to call anyone for help, she was alone and injured - hands and forearms skinned from the fall, bruises on her ankle, knees and no doubt her shoulder from impact with the ground, the taste of blood lingered in her mouth indication that she had inadvertently bit her lip on accident.

She was a mess, an easy target for whomever was pursuing her. Though the aura was close, so many thoughts flooded though the Senshi's mind. Thoughts of her raven haired friend, of Quenton who hopefully slept blissfully unaware of the happenings of what was transpiring around him. Feelings of regret for all the things she had put her parents through over the last several years just to die in the middle of nowhere alone. After all the connections she had made with other senshi and knights over the past several months ultimately amounted to nothing, all she ever wanted to do was help, to use her magic to mend the physical wounds of others.

Delilah, a small whimper escaped her bleeding lips, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I should never have made a promise I couldn't keep her heart painfully skipped a beat from regret of promising her childhood friend she wouldn't leave her alone again. Mom... Dad... her body trembled in part from the cold but ultimately from the wounds - wounds of the flesh and wounds of the heart. "I'm sorry... she whispered her apology aloud, almost willing the words to carry through the night breeze and find their way to her parents.

Acrucis winced when she drew her knees up close, a feeble attempt at making herself seem small, an action which made her body throb. Had she not of been in such a panicked state she may have recognized who exactly was pursing her by the familiar sound of their voice. Then again several months had passed since they saw each other last which in and of itself would hinder her ability to make the connection.

He was close, so dangerously close, she could sense it - his aura. Though she couldn't see him through the darkness of the woods or past the thick foliage that stood between the two of them, the chaos presence that surrounded him, especially at this proximity, was like a beacon.

Terrified she would end up the Thraen should she some how come out of this alive, or worse the deceased student, Acrucis' body began to tremble as one tear after another fell from her vibrant blue eyes. She was utterly helpless and completely alone sitting there on the ground left to the mercy of he who chased her all the way out here away from the prying eyes of civilians; to a place nobody could hear her scream nor find her body should she fall.

She could hear him as he moved through the shrubs, dead leaves crunching beneath his feet. Blue eyes stared forward unblinking, locked on straight ahead the direction she had come from, the path which the Chaos aura had thus far followed.

Hiding was useless, that much she knew. So long as the two of them remained powered up they would be able to sense the other, it was only a matter of time before he caught her cowering against a tree. Then again running wasn't a possible solution either. With her ankle throbbing as it was, there would be no running for a while - at least till she could cast a renew on herself.

Closer - the sounds of his footsteps ringing in her ears as if bubble wrap was being popped next to her head in a quiet room

And closer still - his presence overwhelming to her terrified senses making her nervous

Moments felt like minutes; and minutes like hours till the general that had pursued her across the roof tops crossed under the path of a beam of moonlight that had been filtered through the treetops just enough to allow her a brief glimpse of his facial features. Blond hair, pale skin and eyes darkened by the night sky. Benitoite... Acrucis breathed his name in near disbelief. The Negaverse agent who had been pursuing her was not the general she had come to fear, the one with whom she had only a description: black hair, eye patch, and a chain weapon with blades.

Struggling to rise to her feet she called his name aloud again this time a bit more than a whisper Benitoite...? Please, please be you... she begged knowing she was taking a huge leap of faith that it was someone she had considered an ally and not someone she hadn't met yet.

Stuck in her momentary daze, Acrucis stood motionless and wide eyed as Benitoite wrapped his cloak around her shoulders, fastening the heavy fabric to her capelet. It's him.. she thought, visibly relaxing just a bit.

Tears pricked the corner of her eyes as a wave of emotions cascaded down on her; fear replaced by relief, dread by dare she admit happiness.

Unable to find her voice she shook her head slightly from left to right in response to his question on whether or not she was alright. Her body ached all over from the fall, her head hurt with the onset of a throbbing headache. But none of that mattered, before her stood not the general with an eye patch Thraen had described to her, rather someone she knew from her early days of senshidom.

Not a moment after he fastened the second ivy leaf pin to her fuku did she find herself reaching out towards him and without thinking wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a hug. "It's you," she managed to finally say as the tears trickled down the side of her face Thank God it's you.

Acrucis nodded her head in response to his inquiry, that yes it was indeed a good thing it was he who had found her and not someone else. Up till now she had been lucky, this much she was frightfully aware of. Though she personally had yet to run into anyone who truly wished to see her dead, it didn’t mean that those people weren’t still out there just like he warned her before and reiterated here a second ago.

Lifting her head up from where it had rested on his shoulder ”But I…” she started with the intent to inform Benitoite that she couldn’t heal herself, that she had already used up her magic healing someone else when she felt his arms tighten around her, and heard his command to ‘hold on’. Confusion only lingered for a moment when she realized what he intended to do, though her initial thought was that he meant to take her to his wonder, and in response closed her eyes tightly.

The sensation of being teleported was quite disorienting, much like when Babylon had taken her to his Wonder, however unlike last time she wasn’t prepared for it. For a moment it was like being at the top floor of a tall building and having the cables cut; though thankfully the landing was nowhere near abrupt.

Instead of being greeted by the harsh chills brought on by the frigid air of Mercury, Acrucis felt the familiar breeze that had been snaking its way through the woods with the added feeling of warmth; not from the nearness of Benitoite but rather like being close to a heater of sorts. The little Senshi of Prayer kept her eyes closed till the falling sensation subsided and her head stopped swimming.

Opening her cerulean blue eyes she looked around noting their new location, high up with bright lights – where the heat was coming from no doubt, Acrucis let the general go. ”I-Im sorry.”She managed to say after several minutes had passed.

”I-Im sorry… I shouldn’t have... I just… I-I can’t…” Acrucis drew in a deep breath, thoughts were coming too fast for her to finish a complete sentence a fact that left her feeling slightly frustrated with herself. Taking a step back she leaned her back against the “wall” next to them. Legs exhausted from running she allowed gravity to take over and sat down, wincing slightly from the movement. not good…

With his gloved hand gently hooked under her chin, he held her gaze for long moments as she drew in deep staggered breaths; much like a young child who was trying their hardest to calm down. Only once he had let her go and took a seat beside her did she allow her gaze to drift downward to the near empty street below.

"I-I'm unable to cast my renew right now," she finally replied with a slightly shaky voice. Oh how badly she wished to cast it upon herself given how badly her body currently ached. "I've al-already used it six times in the last twenty four hours. There's nothing left..." Her voice then trailed having admitted to how vulnerable and useless she was at the moment. There was no doubt in her mind that had he been anyone else, she would be completely at their mercy; but as he had said, she was safe up here... with him, her friend.

He would not try to do unto her as the other faceless general, whom she had fortunately been successful in avoiding, had tried to do unto Thraen, would he? No... surely not. She had faith in him, in Benitoite, that his words were true and that is all she needed right now in order to calm her frantic heart that ached from the adrenaline rush just minutes ago.