Running away at fourteen was an easy choice for Charlotte-Mae, because for her it meant being free from parents who chose drugs over their freak daughter. They didn't even notice that she was gone. She left with the little money she saved up, a backpack, her violin and the clothes on her back, with no destination in mind, she just needed to find a place where she felt normal. For a long time, she's felt as if she didn't belong, add to the fact that weird things happened when she was a kid, so of course she felt different. When she got angry at a bully, a fire would start out of no where. If she touched a plant, then it would perk up and change into a healthier color. When she played her violin, she noticed that the wind would occasionally move to the music. And when she concentrated hard enough, water would move however she wanted. But she could also feel if something bad were to happen, which was how she managed to stay on her own, avoiding law enforcement.

For two years she's traveled alone, earning money on the streets by playing her violin, strictly for food and other necessities, but Las Vegas seemed to be the place where she got the most money. She would play on the Strip where most of the tourists were, along with Conventions which were fun too, sometimes the security guards would let her in so she could play, which she thought was nice. Jack Bruno showed up in her life by saving the day. Someone had tried to take Charlotte-Mae's violin, he watched as it happened and felt bad for the girl, so of course he helped her. He returned her prized possession without a scratch, wondering why she was out there alone and noticing how thin she looked in his eyes, deciding to take it upon himself to help her.

Charlotte-Mae began to live with him for the last few months, and she was grateful for that, it had been a long time since she took a decent shower or slept in a bed, Jack feeling bad for the girl when she slept for a whole day and through the night. He couldn't understand how her parents didn't care about her, or how they chose their next high over her, but he promised to take care of her.

•

"Hey Jack" Charlotte-Mae greeted as she walked through the opening of the gate

"Hey Mae" Jack greeted with a small smile as she stopped at his cab "hitting the streets a little early, huh?"

"Couldn't sleep much last night" she replied "pretty sure everyone else here didn't want to hear me play at five in the morning" looking down at him, as he was sitting in the driver's seat of his cab

". . When did you last eat?" looking up at her in concern

"I had a breakfast sandwich at Subway" she assured "plus, I'm still full from last night's dinner" giving him a small smile "and thank you for that, by the way. It was a nice way to spend my sixteenth birthday" tucking a lock of her curly hair behind her ear

"Well, I'm about to head out" he informed "please, be careful out here"

"Of course" she smiled,

He gave her a small smile in return, reversing the cab as she turned to head outside of the gate, but a large black SUV pulled up and stopped right in front of her, causing Jack to hit the breaks, Charlotte-Mae backing up closer to the cab,

"Come on, I have to get out that way!" Jack said, sticking his head out the window,
"hey, you guys gotta move this thing, I gotta go."

The doors of the SUV opened, two big guys in suits stepping out,

"Jack!" one of them said

"Don't return phone calls anymore?" the other asked

"Jack?" Charlotte-Mae asked worriedly

"Don't worry, Mae" Jack assured, stepping out of the cab "its just a little business I need to take care of. Get in the car"

"I didn't know I was going with you today" her eyebrows furrowing

"Please get in, Mae" pointing to the car

She looked at him for a moment, giving him a small nod and walking over to the cab, opening the passenger door, placing her backpack on the floor of the car and sitting inside, violin case resting in her lap. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but it ended with Jack hitting both of them in the face and pinning them into the trunk of the cab, causing her to flinch slightly. Eventually, he let them up, but a police car came up and told off the two guys for parking in a cab zone. Jack got back in the car, and started to drive,

"What was that?" Charlotte-Mae asked, looking at him

"Nothing" he replied "don't worry about it"

Charlotte-Mae raised an eyebrow, a small sigh emitting from her nose as she leaned back in her seat. But her eyebrows furrowed slightly, feeling eyes on her, causing her to slowly turn around, her eyes widening when she saw two teens around her age, one male and one female, sitting in the back seats.

". Uh . . ." She trailed off

"What?" He asked

She didn't answer, instead, she tapped Jack on the shoulder and pointed to the two teens,

"Where did you guys come from?" Charlotte-Mae asked, causing Jack to whip around as well, a look of surprise on his face

"Outside." The boy said simply, light blue eyes and short blonde hair

"Yeah we figured that out by ourselves, but how did you get in the cab?" Jack asked

"Through that portal." The girl said, both of them pointing to the back passenger door of the cab, she had the same electric blue eyes and longer blonde hair

Portal?

"I'm Seth" the boy said "this is my sister, Sara. We require your transportation services immediately."

"Really?" Jack replied "well I require-"

"Currency transaction." The girl - Sara - replied, cutting Jack off

The boy, Seth, dug in his pocket, pulling out a big handful of money,

"Will this amount suffice?" He asked, holding it out to Jack

"What, did you rob a bank?" Charlotte-Mae asked, her eyes widening

"Is this acceptable Jack Bruno?" Sara asked

"How'd you know my name?" Jack asked

Sara pointed to Jack's license, which was sitting on the dashboard.

"If we have a deal with your services, we must move forward rapidly" Seth continued "it is urgent we get to our destination without delay"

The car behind them started honking it's horn,

"Alright, alright I'm going!" Jack yelled out the window, driving again "where to?"

Seth pulled something out from his pocket and started playing with it.

"I need an address" Jack said, getting impatient

"We must travel in that direction" Sara said, pointing out the front passenger window

"Uh, yeah I think he needs something a little more specific than just . . that direction" Charlotte-Mae replied, looking at her

"We must locate, latitude 40.54, cross intersecting longitude-" Seth began before Jack put his hand up to silence him

"We're gonna stick with that direction" He said