It begins

A tall figure raced down the gloomily lit sidewalk, one leap and a sharp turn and he was in a small alley in less than a second from his last hiding spot.

Panting lightly, he listened for anyone who might have seen him.  Thankfully, there was very little activity at 2 am all the streets were as silent as a grave.  In spite the agony shooting through his body, he continued on, leaping out once again and making for a new hideout.  Over one shoulder, he carried an old duffel bag.  The only things in it were a few empty water bottles.  He intended to leave with it full on the way back home.

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Mute sat at her bedroom window, waiting anxiously for her visitor.  She kept the hall light on, so that it would cast only the faintest glow from the window.  In hopes that would be enough for her friend to see and lead him here in the night.  

Her parents were out again, spending a few days at some hotel to attend a conference about the local museums.  She never really got into their business and didn’t care for it anymore.  They wanted her to accompany them, for the sake attention that they have been getting a lot of since her ‘incident’.  She refused, complaining of homework that she had to so, but really just not wanting to be a part of their drama.  Her housekeeper had left hours ago, leaving Mute to her own devices.  The meeting would be quick, lasting only long enough to give her friend what he needs and whisper a few words, but it was worth it.

Pushing a strand of her sandy blond hair behind her ear with one hand, she shifted the dark purple scarf with the other.  It was a strange looking piece, decorated in strange silver markings and symbols.  Even stranger was the fact she wore it from the neck and over her the lower part of her face, covering the mouth completely.  This was the result of her ‘incident’.
Something moved in the dark.  Squinting, she peered over the small fruit tree in the corner of the yard and into the dimness of the back alley that lay beyond it.

A tall lanky, dark haired young man emerged from the shadow, staggering slightly.  He wore only a pair of tattered gray shorts that reached his knees.  The rest of his body was another matter.  From head to foot, a bizarre black metal suit clung to his thin frame.  Long, flexible strips of metal ran over and under his limbs, even more thin pieces wrapped around, connecting the metal together. Over them in many sections were parts of sharp looking armor plates.  The thickest and largest parts were over his chest and face.  All over were strange markings and symbols etched in the black metal in faint red.  Removing the mask, he pushed through the small wooden gate.
 
Mute left the window, reached under her bed and withdrew a large paper bag and ran out the back door.  Shriek was already inside.  Crouching low, panting and trembling slightly.

“Jackin…” her voice was hardly a whisper added to the fact her scarf muffled her voice.  The young man held up one hand, silencing her.  As he did, she looked into his face.  gaunt and worn, his cheeks were more shallow that they were last time she had seen him.  His eyes, once a bright intelligent blue, now dulled, bloodshot and gray from the ceaseless pain and the never-ending sleepless nights gave him permanent dark bags on his slower eyelids.

“Please…c-call m-me…”

“Shriek.” Mute muttered, “I’m sorry.”  With that, she handed him a bag and he quietly placed it into his duffel bag.  “I’ll leave something in the usual place next week.” Mute whispered, and nodded at the garden hose, “you can fill up on water from that if you want.” She added before turning and going back in the house.  Shriek obliged eagerly, filling his empty gallon water bottles as fast as the water could flow.  The moment he was done he turned and fled the yard in a fraction of a second.  It was not wise to linger in the city, especially around the residence of his only ally.  The media vultures already hung around this place long enough as it did.

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Shriek grunted and gasped in pain as he ran. The armor constricted around him if he moved to fast.  long thin spikes connected to the underside of the suit slid deeper into his flesh. Even though there was no blood, it dis not stop the physical agony.The Suit made sure to keep the body of the host alive as well as adjust it to make sure it survived great speed. No mater how painful or uncomfortable it was.

Wandering down to the ocean in the southern part of Havenfall city, the young man had made his way through the labyrinth of the waterfront ruins.  Most people who came here either didn’t have nowhere else to go, or didn’t want to be found.  
He went to the far reaches of the ruins, moving to what appeared to be a wrecked ship, but was in fact had once been an old night club and bar.  He knows this because his great uncle used to own it, before it was lost to the erosion and saltwater.

There were a few entrances, some more hidden than others, but he wandered in the usual way.
Shriek nearly cried out as he hopped in the waist deep sea water, these waters were also fed by the river water that ran from the snow covered mountains neighboring the city.  Even though it was something he did periodically, he never got used to it.  But it was good to cover his tracks if someone was following him.  Though the numbness that seeped in after a minute did help ease his pain a bit

Holding his bag up over his head, he made the dreadful wade through a massive hole in the side of the toppled building.  He tossed the bag onto a ledge that once used to be the night club stage and pulled himself up after it.  Shaking water from his numbed legs, he hoisted the bag over one shoulder and walked through the backstage door.

His home was less than impressive. Located in what used to be a kitchen, it contained only a blue sleeping bag, some candles and a makeshift stove. Other few items he owned were tucked away in the old cabinets on onside of the room.  He had a little electricity.  Thanks to the small power generator he had found and repaired and the armature wiring he had been taught at a young age.  A pale light flickered on overhead from the single bulb.   Placing the bag near his bed, he went to one of the cabinets and took out an old towel that he had taken form a clothes line and dried himself off as best he could.  

Once he was finished, he started to go through his new supplies.  Some canned food and juice, a few small oranges and apples, protein shakes, one or 2 energy drinks, energy bars and tons of pain medication.  The last item he was really thankful for, he really could use some right now and he went through them fast.
Reaching in the sleeping bag, Shriek took out his phone, well the one he currently ‘owned’ and pulled up a website.

‘HEADLINE: BANE ARTIFACTS MOVED FROM COLLOWEY MUSEUM TO NEW LOCATION.’

Shriek groaned, he had planned on hitting the place the next night.  He would have to ask Mute to do some research, if she could, on where the artifacts were being taken to.  Until then…
He slumped down into his bag, he would text the information to Mute, then dispose of the phone.   For now he would wait and plan.