They trudged through the twists and turns of the alleys. When they came out they were in a neighborhood. Jeen looked around, all the buildings were brick apartments.

"C'mon. This way." Londen said as he walked out of the dense alley and towards the buildings. "I know a guy who lives right up here, he works for the Swarm on and off, I don't really trust him, but as long as you guys don't cause any trouble, everything's good, emkay?"

He was tall enough to reach the fire escape. He didn't bother telling Jeen and Roman to follow as he jogged up.

"Okay." Roman answered as they jogged up the fire escape, the metal steps shaking under their footsteps.

Londen stopped halfway up.

When Jeen and Roman caught up, Londen began to bang on the door in front of them.

"Sunny! Hey, Sunny, open up!" Londen shouted, hitting his fist against the stained steel door.

The door opened a minute later.

Jeen was taken aback by who opened it, because typically when she heard the name Sunny, she usually expected a nice old lady. But, instead they got a surly looking guy with dark hair and worn out work-clothing - much like Londen's.

Well, she wouldn't be happy either if she was that guy and was named 'Sunny'. He wasn't sunny at all, more like stormy.

He frowned at Londen.

"Londen? What're you 'doin here?" He asked, his downtown accent thick, similar to Londen's.

"I'm on vacation. But, I lost my place, just thought I'd come here. You don't mind do you?"

Despite Londen's convincing skills at lying, Jeen could tell Sunny wasn't taking it.

"Who're they?"

"Friends, newbs." He added nonchalantly.

Jeen frowned. By "newbs" he must've meant new to the Swarm.

"Emkay. But don't stay too long, I ain't got time for a bunch of freeloaders."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Londen smiled, the forming bruises on his face becoming more noticeable.

Sunny would have to a complete idiot to believe Londen's story just based on their appearance alone.

Jeen really hoped he was.

Sunny opened the door, and Londen sauntered in, Jeen and Roman following, their heads down and arms crossed.

As Jeen stared down at her feet, she hoped he wouldn't notice that she was barefoot. She felt her arms shaking as the room spinned - she could barely even see what it looked like.

"Ro-Roman." She said, her voice weak.

"Jeen? You okay?" He asked, touching her hand and pulling back, shocked - she felt like ice.

"You're freezing!"

"I-could you get me some water. I'm really-really thirsty." She mumbled.

"Hey, what's up with her?" Sunny asked as he walked into the room.

"She's just cold. It rained pretty milken hard earlier." Londen said casually. His way of telling them to shut up and cover up. To not make a scene.

But, Jeen felt weak, and so cold.

So, so cold.

Roman gave Londen a panicked look as Sunny walked past them. "Hypothermia." He mouthed.

Londen nodded. He knew.

He watched Sunny out of the corner of his eye, then looked back at Roman.

"He has to trust us, because I don't trust him. Okay?" He said under his breath. "Let me handle this."

Roman nodded. "I'll get you some water." He whispered to Jeen.

All she was thinking about was the numbness, and how thirsty she was. Everything felt foggy, like she had to remind herself where she was and what was happening or she'd forget.

Roman brought her a glass of water in the only clean cup he could find - also without asking Sunny first.

He agreed with Londen on one thing, he didn't trust Sunny either.

He handed her the glass and she drank in one long gulp. "Thanks," she said, hugging her arms. Roman's jacket was thick, but she still shivered.

"Where are we gonna go-go after this?" Jeen whispered.

"I don't know." Roman said, hugging Jeen to keep her warm.

Jeen would've found it funny that the only time she and Roman hugged was when she had hypothermia or they were kidnapped, but she was too cold to barely talk, much less laugh.

She looked over at Sunny. He and Londen were talking, she couldn't hear what about, but she guessed it had something to do with the Swarm, and why she and Roman looked like fugitives. Well, if he asked her why they looked like fugitives, her answer to that would be 'because we are'.

Fugitives from a bunch of psychos.

Hours later, Londen seemed to have discreetly convinced Sunny that they weren't going to cause any trouble, but now they were hungry, and tired. Londen wasn't sure how long they could stay, but he knew it wasn't long.

"Hey, I know somewhere we can get some food. It's not far, and the lady who owns the place can give you some new clothes." Londen said to Jeen as he, Jeen and Roman stood in the hallway, contemplating what to do next.

"Okay." She said, feeling warmer and more with it than earlier.

"Hey, Sunny, we're gonna be back in a bit." Londen yelled across the room, over the noise of the radio and viewer.

"Emkay." Sunny answered, not really paying attention.

"C'mon. Let's go." Londen said, walking towards the door.

(if you liked this chapter, don't forget to give it a vote! Thanks!)