246 7 Manhun

"No need to thank me, just tell Sena I said hi." He smiled.

"Goodnight." She said, shutting the door.

"Hey kiddo, I'm home!" Rick called up as he was walking up the steps. Maru rushed over to greet him at the door.

"What took you so long?" She huffed. Rick laughed, then realized he hadn't gotten the groceries.

"Uh," Rick began as he scratched his head. "I forgot." He chuckled. Maru looked at him confused.

"You forgot?" She asked. Rick sighed.

"It stopped raining, if you wanna come we can go now." Maru's eyes twinkled. She grabbed his arm, not realizing her own strength as she pulled him down the steps. "Wait!" Rick cried. "You need a jacket!"

"Ready now?" Rick asked fixing her coat.

"Mm!" Maru smiled excitedly. "Can we go to the park?" She questioned as they walked out the door.

"We can't go today, it's gonna get dark soon." Maru frowned. "Plus," Rick added "everything will be wet, you don't want that." Maru nodded her head.

"Don't want that!" She repeated.

As they left the market, Rick had an uneasy feeling. He couldn't make sense of it either.

"Oi, Maru," He began. "Hold my hand." Maru looked up at him.

"Are you scared?" Rick looked down.

"Huh!?" He cried offended.

"Are you scared of the dark?" Maru repeated innocently.

"No, don't be silly!" Rick huffed. As he was busy ranting about how people his age shouldn't fear something as silly as the dark, a group of men walked over. Rick quickly looked up.

"Found you…" one of the men smirked. A bunch of men suddenly surrounded the two. Cornered, Rick gripped Maru tightly. Maru looked pale, as if the color in her face drained.

"Rick..." she whimpered.

"Oi." The men, and Rick whipped their heads around. "You gottem?" A man questioned.

"Yes Mr. Huser, sir." The man grinned. "Excellent, lets get this game of manhunt over with then, shall we?"